Bugis ‘Banji’ Keris hilt

A finely carved and richly ornamented wooden keris hilt (Ukiran) originating from Celebes, present-day Sulawesi, and reflecting strong Bugis-Malay stylistic influence. The hilt is of characteristic pistol-grip form (Jawa Demam), its surface densely decorated with segmented cartouches containing ‘banji’ motifs at the base, above which appear panels with ‘lung-lungan’ floral scrollwork. Amidst the overall elaborate vegetal decoration, an eternal knot motif is carved along the upper section, while a cartouche on the chest bears an Arabic inscription including a Hijri date of 1311, corresponding to 1893–1894 CE. Karsten Sejr Jensen describes this type of hilt as ‘Celebes Pangulu’ which can be translated as ‘village head’ or ‘chieftain’ and points in quality and decoration towards higher social ranks.