Kris Handles, Central Java, Indonesia, keris

Two Rare Kris Handles in the form of Togog & Bilung

These two exceptionally finely rendered wooden kris handles are carved in the form of the clown servants Togog and Bilung, characters in the Indonesian version of the Indian epic, the Mahabarata.

The two brothers act as wise advisors to the Kurawa brothers, bad rulers who struggle for power against the Pandawa brothers. They have by tradition ugly and disproportionate features such as their swollen bellies and elongated jaws, a deliberate contrast with their wise counternance.

Togog and Bilung only appear in the Indonesian version of the Mahabarata being Javanese additions.

These two kris handles have a warm, soft patina and are in exceptional condition with no losses to the carving.