need some help about my new keris

[Henk]

Could you make a picture frontal of the sekar kacang?

[auk]

Hi henk excuse me wat means sekar kacang
greetings

[A. G. Maisey]

I'm sorry Auk, but there is nothing more I can say about this keris. The form is unusual, but elements of that unusual form indicate to me an East Jawa origin. It is an old keris, but not immensely old, in your original pics the appearance was vaguely Majapahitish, but in the later pics I can see the material clearly, and I am unable to give it a Mojo label. I doubt that there is much more that anybody could say. I suggest that you should be content with having a nice, unusual , old Javanese keris in fairly good condition.

Frankly, I find it difficult to understand exactly what additional information you need. If you have any specific questions we might be able to provide answers.

[auk]

Hi mr maisey thanks again fore the replay
i understand its hard to tell from foto,s wat the unusal aspects are.
you said probily from east java?
hoping i can get more judgement about dhapur? geographic origin? tangguh? isi? tuah wat the keris was ment for i wil try put some more information.
the lengt from top til ganja is 32 cm ganja lenght 8cm the peksi in thin not a thick one and at the end a little twisted also i like to know wat kind of pamor it is meanig etc i have a lot of questions hoping i get some more answer
thanks fore reading and thinking
greetings...

[Henk]

Auk, I mean the right side of your last picture but frontal on the edge.

[auk]

Hi Henk thanks fore the reply hope this picture wil do
Greetings

[David]

Originally Posted by auk

Hi Henk thanks fore the reply hope this picture wil do
Greetings

Actually Auk, i think that a 3/4th viewpoint might be more helpful here than the straight on shot Henk requested.

[tunggulametung]

Hello,
There are many possibilities but based upon what I can see I'm in the opinion that your keris has been repaired/altered--or even made to look unusual from day one, I'll call it dapur kreasi baru/owah-owahan or the like --contemporary/non standard dapur (might be once sepang-urubung damar combo which is okay, anything in that direction), tangguh kamardikan--modern/vintage, pamor wos wutah, origin Java-Madura somewhere, I don't have any opinion on tuah/isi. I could be wrong. Nice material but rather lacking on garap I would say, sorry. I wish better condition keris coming your way soon

[David]

Originally Posted by tunggulametung

Hello,
There are many possibilities but based upon what I can see I'm in the opinion that your keris has been repaired/altered--or even made to look unusual from day one, I'll call it dapur kreasi baru/owah-owahan or the like --contemporary/non standard dapur (might be once sepang-urubung damar combo which is okay, anything in that direction), tangguh kamardikan--modern/vintage, pamor wos wutah, origin Java-Madura somewhere, I don't have any opinion on tuah/isi. I could be wrong. Nice material but rather lacking on garap I would say, sorry. I wish better condition keris coming your way soon

hmmm....can can you tell us why you think this is a contemporary keris?
I am also confused by you opinion that "your keris has been repaired/altered--or even made to look unusual from day one." These seem to be two diametrically opposed opinions in one sentence. Which do you believe, that it has been altered or that it was made this way from day one? I am not sure that i see where it has been altered from the photos provided.
Personally i don't think the workmanship (garap) is that bad. This is not a masterpiece keris by any means but i am in agreement with Alan that it is an nice, old and unusual keris that aside from what appears to be some damage in the gandik area is in pretty good shape (sheath not withstanding). Frankly, i like keris that don't fit clearly into the mold. It seems senseless to me to create some kind of composite name simply to have a dhapur to tag onto this piece.

[Jean]

Originally Posted by tunggulametung

Hello,
There are many possibilities but based upon what I can see I'm in the opinion that your keris has been repaired/altered--or even made to look unusual from day one, I'll call it dapur kreasi baru/owah-owahan or the like --contemporary/non standard dapur (might be once sepang-urubung damar combo which is okay, anything in that direction), tangguh kamardikan--modern/vintage, pamor wos wutah, origin Java-Madura somewhere, I don't have any opinion on tuah/isi. I could be wrong. Nice material but rather lacking on garap I would say, sorry. I wish better condition keris coming your way soon

Hello Chandra,
Thank you for your interesting opinion and personally I would not discard it too quickly as I also see some signs that this may be a recent or altered piece. I know your experience and as you live in Jakarta you are more familiar with the tricks of the trade than most of us. Personally I find this question of distinguishing between a genuine old blade from a recent and altered one as very difficult and primordial for a collector and any input on tis subject is welcome. So please elaborate more about the observations and findings which make you believe that this is not an old blade, we are listening!
Best regards