Keris Jawa?

[rasdan]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Rasdan

I agree with everything you have written Rasdan, and when it gets right down to it, you have set forth the the whole problem of giving the keris shown in Post #1 a classification:- it lacks a sufficient balance of indicators that would permit it to be placed in any broad classification.

I cannot say in even broad terms where it is from, and since I was taught that we achieve an opinion in respect of classification by eliminating all the examples that have features which preclude them from consideration, I cannot give an opinion where this keris might be from, nor can I give an opinion on where it might not be from.

Guesses I can do, opinions I cannot.

You're right about the Mataram classification, there is a multitude of sub-classifications for Mataram.

In my opinion you are also right about classification & quality:- we do not need to have an applicable tangguh classification to have quality in a keris. The two concepts differ.

Yes Alan, and then there are kerisses that is obviously not very high quality but is still appealing to me. Keris can be confusing at times.

[A. G. Maisey]

Once again Rasdan, you're dead right.

I have some keris that I believe any self respecting collector would not consider for one moment including in his collection.

But these are keris that for one reason or another I would not consider parting with.

I don't think this attitude is confusing, it is a matter of feeling, as opposed to rational judgement.