Collection goals and strategies – do you have them?

A. G. Maisey · 21st September 2010, 05:35 AM

This is a good point for discussion, Jussi.

When I was very, very much younger than I am now, I had a very sharply defined strategy.

I didn't think it involved wanting much.

Only every keris that was ever made.

At the time I did not understand what my strategy involved.

I never realized the objective of my strategy, but up until about age 30 I did buy every keris I encountered, and that I could afford. That resulted in a massive accumulation of keris, which I began to get rid of sometime in my thirties, and by the time I was in my early 40's that accumulation had shrunk into double figures.

Then I began to really learn about keris. From age 14 through to about age 42 I was really only in kindergarten, learning my ABC --- yeah, OK, I'm a slow learner.

As I learnt more , I got rid of even more keris, while at the same time I bought more keris.

I'd well and truly dropped my original strategy by then, and my strategy at that time was to buy every good quality piece I could afford. Trouble was I couldn't stick with this strategy, because I'd be tempted by minor unusual pieces that often totally lacked quality.

After this phase I started to specialize. I had realized that I simply could not afford to buy the very best of what I came across, so the chase for improvement in quality was shelved, and I began concentrating on archaic pieces. Because good archaic pieces are so very, very scarce, this meant that I could go maybe 4 or 5 years without buying a single good archaic piece --- and I still got sidetracked by those minor unusual pieces.

As things stand at the present time I do not have any strategy at all for collecting, because I no longer consider myself a collector. For a little while now I have been in the process of reducing my collection to a manageable level. I will still buy the occasional piece if it grabs me in some way, but there is no longer any sort of defined plan, it’s a matter of if I see something I really like for some reason or another, and I can afford it, I'll buy it. But purchases are very few and far between.

My primary goal for some time has been the collection of understanding and knowledge, rather than the collection of actual keris.

Some years ago I knew a fellow who was one of the world's great authorities on Japanese swords. When I met him he had a very large collection of swords, which he relentlessly reduced in number during the time I knew him. As he reduced his collection, he would very occasionally buy an additional sword, which could easily be sold a few months later. His stated aim was to have a "collection of one sword, and that sword will be perfect".

I'm not quite as radical as this, but my thoughts do tend in that general direction.

David · 21st September 2010, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Some years ago I knew a fellow who was one of the world's great authorities on Japanese swords. When I met him he had a very large collection of swords, which he relentlessly reduced in number during the time I knew him. As he reduced his collection, he would very occasionally buy an additional sword, which could easily be sold a few months later. His stated aim was to have a "collection of one sword, and that sword will be perfect".

I'm not quite as radical as this, but my thoughts do tend in that general direction.

While i completely understand this i just don't think i could every do it with keris. There is just too many variations and aesthetics.

A. G. Maisey · 21st September 2010, 06:24 AM

Maybe it depends upon what one wants.

The fellow I am talking about really did not need to see Japanese swords to have a reference, everything was already in his head. I'm talking about somebody who had won signature reading competitions against Japanese. What he wanted was just one perfect sword, not a library full of reference swords.

He no longer needed them.

PenangsangII · 21st September 2010, 07:20 AM

objective of collecting keris?

Sometime it is not our choice.
Acquiring, keeping and maintaining keris is a responsibility to me though I started out as a silat practitioner, it gradually became what David had said earlier. In the process, I changed my objective and direction a few times like Alan, and now stuck with spiritual responsibility.

This may change when I opt to become "moksa" someday...... (moksa in term of stopping anything to do with keris

)

Moshah · 21st September 2010, 06:10 PM

Well I am still in my 20s (ahem...late 20's) so I figure that I will spend a lot of money and time making mistakes and collecting rubbish until I can understand much better about keris.

I gather the knowledge from hands on, books, references, forums etc...but the best lesson would be the experiences of paying premium prices for junks...

Still a newcomer like me would always have this kind of problem but the learning curve that i undertaken, for instance thru this forum, would actually saves me a lot of money and time.

I also believe keris can be a good investment, like some of you pointed out. The best investment that came out from keris to me is that it teaches me that history is surprisingly interesting...it's not as boring as when it was in school

ferrylaki · 23rd September 2010, 06:01 AM

I've been collecting keris for 3 years or 4. and I always looking forward to see a different keris every day. I really think that I've reach My state of addiction with this keris matter.
Once Alan said to me. keris is addictive...well I feel it right now.
but the passion of collecting keris is fade away these days.
i found that there are so many hight quality keris surround me that I recently not afford to buy.
From now on, being able to see and to hold a good quality keris personally and study it would be the greatest concern to me.

21st September 2010, 05:35 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	This is a good point for discussion, Jussi. When I was very, very much younger than I am now, I had a very sharply defined strategy. I didn't think it involved wanting much. Only every keris that was ever made. At the time I did not understand what my strategy involved. I never realized the objective of my strategy, but up until about age 30 I did buy every keris I encountered, and that I could afford. That resulted in a massive accumulation of keris, which I began to get rid of sometime in my thirties, and by the time I was in my early 40's that accumulation had shrunk into double figures. Then I began to really learn about keris. From age 14 through to about age 42 I was really only in kindergarten, learning my ABC --- yeah, OK, I'm a slow learner. As I learnt more , I got rid of even more keris, while at the same time I bought more keris. I'd well and truly dropped my original strategy by then, and my strategy at that time was to buy every good quality piece I could afford. Trouble was I couldn't stick with this strategy, because I'd be tempted by minor unusual pieces that often totally lacked quality. After this phase I started to specialize. I had realized that I simply could not afford to buy the very best of what I came across, so the chase for improvement in quality was shelved, and I began concentrating on archaic pieces. Because good archaic pieces are so very, very scarce, this meant that I could go maybe 4 or 5 years without buying a single good archaic piece --- and I still got sidetracked by those minor unusual pieces. As things stand at the present time I do not have any strategy at all for collecting, because I no longer consider myself a collector. For a little while now I have been in the process of reducing my collection to a manageable level. I will still buy the occasional piece if it grabs me in some way, but there is no longer any sort of defined plan, it’s a matter of if I see something I really like for some reason or another, and I can afford it, I'll buy it. But purchases are very few and far between. My primary goal for some time has been the collection of understanding and knowledge, rather than the collection of actual keris. Some years ago I knew a fellow who was one of the world's great authorities on Japanese swords. When I met him he had a very large collection of swords, which he relentlessly reduced in number during the time I knew him. As he reduced his collection, he would very occasionally buy an additional sword, which could easily be sold a few months later. His stated aim was to have a "collection of one sword, and that sword will be perfect". I'm not quite as radical as this, but my thoughts do tend in that general direction.

21st September 2010, 06:24 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Maybe it depends upon what one wants. The fellow I am talking about really did not need to see Japanese swords to have a reference, everything was already in his head. I'm talking about somebody who had won signature reading competitions against Japanese. What he wanted was just one perfect sword, not a library full of reference swords. He no longer needed them.

21st September 2010, 07:20 AM	#4
PenangsangII Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 401	objective of collecting keris? Sometime it is not our choice. Acquiring, keeping and maintaining keris is a responsibility to me though I started out as a silat practitioner, it gradually became what David had said earlier. In the process, I changed my objective and direction a few times like Alan, and now stuck with spiritual responsibility. This may change when I opt to become "moksa" someday...... (moksa in term of stopping anything to do with keris )

21st September 2010, 06:10 PM	#5
Moshah Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 171	Well I am still in my 20s (ahem...late 20's) so I figure that I will spend a lot of money and time making mistakes and collecting rubbish until I can understand much better about keris. I gather the knowledge from hands on, books, references, forums etc...but the best lesson would be the experiences of paying premium prices for junks... Still a newcomer like me would always have this kind of problem but the learning curve that i undertaken, for instance thru this forum, would actually saves me a lot of money and time. I also believe keris can be a good investment, like some of you pointed out. The best investment that came out from keris to me is that it teaches me that history is surprisingly interesting...it's not as boring as when it was in school

23rd September 2010, 06:01 AM	#6
ferrylaki Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 285	I've been collecting keris for 3 years or 4. and I always looking forward to see a different keris every day. I really think that I've reach My state of addiction with this keris matter. Once Alan said to me. keris is addictive...well I feel it right now. but the passion of collecting keris is fade away these days. i found that there are so many hight quality keris surround me that I recently not afford to buy. From now on, being able to see and to hold a good quality keris personally and study it would be the greatest concern to me.