wood ?

sirek · 25th September 2010, 07:18 PM

Mine opinion about the wood used for the wranka is:

SPALTED TAMARIND - (Tamarindus indica) Also called Tamarin.
(text from the net)
Spalted Tamarind is a beautiful wood from Laos, Southeast Asia.
Much of this wood comes from logs that were either found on the forest floor or were cut and then allowed to spalt in the very damp warm conditions of the jungle. The colors and various line patterns are truly unique from one piece to another. Heartwood has a spectacular back ground colors of ivory, yellow, and black lines, which gives this such unpredictable landscape effect.

My guess about the pendok discoloration is that he had once been exposed by any acid / salty influence, that gives copper a brownish color.
But it may also be that this chemical is produced and then coated.

I would leave it as is but that's my opinion, and if you do not like it then you polish.

asomotif · 25th September 2010, 07:47 PM

Hi Danny,

Are those light spots on the pendok scratches ?
In case they are scratches, I would clean the pendok with copper polish.

It is nice if a keris shows some age, but and oxidised and scratched pendok is not very nice in my opinion.
I have a keris silver pendok and one with a gold plated pendok.
Both will turn black in time, so from time time to time I do clean them a bit.
No abrassives neede for that by the way. just a cotton cloth.

Best regards,
Willem

Sajen · 25th September 2010, 08:46 PM

I am with Willem, I think what we see are scratches and in this case I would prefer to clean the pendok. BTW, I have had pendoks so heavy oxidized that I have to clean them with metal polish many times until they look good again. I will look for examples and will take some pics.

A. G. Maisey · 25th September 2010, 11:04 PM

I am not going to give an opinion on the wood in either the hilt or the wrongko, because working from a photograph it is absolutely impossible for me to perform the examination needed to come to a supportable opinion.

However, in respect of the pendok. If this keris were to be cleaned up for sale or use in Jawa, the pendok would be removed and soaked for a few hours in household vinegar. This would remove most of the tarnish. It would then be polished with a metal polish.

When I need to polish an old pendok I use 0000 steel wool and a good quality German metal polish that is used for mag wheels and chrome work on cars, then finish by buffing with a soft cloth.

Henk · 26th September 2010, 08:15 AM

You have to look closely to the pendok. From the picture it is hard to see, but i think it is occidation. In that case follow Alan's advise.

Pendoks wich were painted or laquered where connected by the color to a rank or status. Brown was a color for a rank. But the brown was darkbrown. Don't know at the moment what color belonged to wich rank. Red was for royal. But the paint or laquer was shiny. I cann't see that on your pictures.

A. G. Maisey · 26th September 2010, 10:19 AM

This is not a kemalo pendok.

Colour code for Surakarta Karaton kemalo is:-

Red --- the royal family, or a bupati

Green --- penewu

Dark Grey --- lurah

Black --- jajar

Black (alternate) --- all ranks, and members of the public, for a funeral

The colour code for sunggingan wrongko is different, and refers to the base colour only:-

White or yellow --- bupati

Gold --- pangeran

Sea blue --- penewu

Light green --- mentri.

The colour code is permitted, but not enforced.

The canthangbalung can wear any colour, but they must wear it with jejeran rojomolo.

danny1976 · 26th September 2010, 11:03 AM

Everybody ,

Thanks for the opinions..

I, wil clean the pendok .

Regards,

Danny

Sajen · 29th September 2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

This is not a kemalo pendok.

Colour code for Surakarta Karaton kemalo is:-

Red --- the royal family, or a bupati

Green --- penewu

Dark Grey --- lurah

Black --- jajar

Black (alternate) --- all ranks, and members of the public, for a funeral

The colour code for sunggingan wrongko is different, and refers to the base colour only:-

White or yellow --- bupati

Gold --- pangeran

Sea blue --- penewu

Light green --- mentri.

The colour code is permitted, but not enforced.

The canthangbalung can wear any colour, but they must wear it with jejeran rojomolo.

Alan, sorry, please can you explain penewu, mentri, lurah, jajar, pangeran and canthangbalung? Or try to give a translation? I only know the word bupati. Thank's in advance,

Detlef

25th September 2010, 07:18 PM	#1
sirek Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 171	Mine opinion about the wood used for the wranka is: SPALTED TAMARIND - (Tamarindus indica) Also called Tamarin. (text from the net) Spalted Tamarind is a beautiful wood from Laos, Southeast Asia. Much of this wood comes from logs that were either found on the forest floor or were cut and then allowed to spalt in the very damp warm conditions of the jungle. The colors and various line patterns are truly unique from one piece to another. Heartwood has a spectacular back ground colors of ivory, yellow, and black lines, which gives this such unpredictable landscape effect. My guess about the pendok discoloration is that he had once been exposed by any acid / salty influence, that gives copper a brownish color. But it may also be that this chemical is produced and then coated. I would leave it as is but that's my opinion, and if you do not like it then you polish. Attached Images

25th September 2010, 07:47 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Hi Danny, Are those light spots on the pendok scratches ? In case they are scratches, I would clean the pendok with copper polish. It is nice if a keris shows some age, but and oxidised and scratched pendok is not very nice in my opinion. I have a keris silver pendok and one with a gold plated pendok. Both will turn black in time, so from time time to time I do clean them a bit. No abrassives neede for that by the way. just a cotton cloth. Best regards, Willem

25th September 2010, 08:46 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,272	I am with Willem, I think what we see are scratches and in this case I would prefer to clean the pendok. BTW, I have had pendoks so heavy oxidized that I have to clean them with metal polish many times until they look good again. I will look for examples and will take some pics.

25th September 2010, 11:04 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	I am not going to give an opinion on the wood in either the hilt or the wrongko, because working from a photograph it is absolutely impossible for me to perform the examination needed to come to a supportable opinion. However, in respect of the pendok. If this keris were to be cleaned up for sale or use in Jawa, the pendok would be removed and soaked for a few hours in household vinegar. This would remove most of the tarnish. It would then be polished with a metal polish. When I need to polish an old pendok I use 0000 steel wool and a good quality German metal polish that is used for mag wheels and chrome work on cars, then finish by buffing with a soft cloth.

26th September 2010, 08:15 AM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	You have to look closely to the pendok. From the picture it is hard to see, but i think it is occidation. In that case follow Alan's advise. Pendoks wich were painted or laquered where connected by the color to a rank or status. Brown was a color for a rank. But the brown was darkbrown. Don't know at the moment what color belonged to wich rank. Red was for royal. But the paint or laquer was shiny. I cann't see that on your pictures.

26th September 2010, 10:19 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	This is not a kemalo pendok. Colour code for Surakarta Karaton kemalo is:- Red --- the royal family, or a bupati Green --- penewu Dark Grey --- lurah Black --- jajar Black (alternate) --- all ranks, and members of the public, for a funeral The colour code for sunggingan wrongko is different, and refers to the base colour only:- White or yellow --- bupati Gold --- pangeran Sea blue --- penewu Light green --- mentri. The colour code is permitted, but not enforced. The canthangbalung can wear any colour, but they must wear it with jejeran rojomolo.

26th September 2010, 11:03 AM	#7
danny1976 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holland Posts: 245	Everybody , Thanks for the opinions.. I, wil clean the pendok . Regards, Danny