large Keris

Jean · 14th October 2013, 09:50 AM

This style of ugly scabbard and hilt was still made during my last visit to Bali in 2007 but I agree with Alan that the blade seems to be a common quality one with some age and without pamor which was "treated" to make it more attractive. Personally I would try to clean the blade in vinegar which should remove the residual rust and fake pamor, and stain it again.

Regards

A. G. Maisey · 14th October 2013, 12:18 PM

Yes Jean, still made, but of very poor quality.

The early ones could often be very good examples of skilled carving.

David · 14th October 2013, 03:26 PM

I think you are right Alan and i did rush to judgement to refer to this as a "KLO". I believe that you are correct that it is a rather low quality "real" blade that has been "upgraded" for more commercial appeal, though i can't imagine this was done for the indigenous market (but who knows).
The dress is a better carving than some of the examples i have seen of this dress form and i am of the mind as well that a good example of this dress does have a place in a well balanced collection and indeed have one with a much better blade in my own collection. While this form has become synonymous with the classic tourist keris i have also heard it referred to as "dance dress". I have thrown the question out before as to whether or not this could be the origins of such dress, but have never received and definite confirmation on that question.
Brian, i am with Jean in the suggestion that you try to clean and restain this blade in order to remove the nasty fake pamor.

Henk · 14th October 2013, 08:18 PM

I completely agree with Alan.

It is one of the better examples I've seen. And I've seen a lot of these cheap fake kerisses on the Dutch Indonesian markets with blades cut from sheetmetal.

Fake pamor? Yes and no. Probably a pamorless blade that turned into a pamorblade by the batik treatment.

A. G. Maisey · 14th October 2013, 08:39 PM

No, this false pamor would probably not have been done for any other reason but to make the keris more attractive as a souvenir, as you say David, not for the local market, but for the visitors. In fact, I feel that a close examination would show that this blade might have a pamor sanak. In the close up I think I can see one area of blade where there is a distinct separation between core and outer layers, so it just might have outer layers of plain iron, which by their nature would have needed to be welded and folded, which technically becomes pamor sanak.

I don't think we can call this type of keris a dance keris. Yeah, sure, this type or any other type might be used as a dance prop, but that is not its purpose. In fact, in Bali these days a lot of Balinese wear Javanese keris. You see the people whose job it is to keep order in public gatherings wearing low quality Javanese gayamans, I'd guess these are owned by the local banjar or banjars and given to these Harmony Keepers for the duration of the event.

For the future of this blade I'm with Jean & David:- get rid of the lies and let it be itself.

Iliad · 14th October 2013, 09:52 PM

Greetings,
Thanks to all who have contributed their expert opinions. I am quite happy to accept that the Keris is of souvenir quality, as I did not pay much for it. But, it looks great as a display piece!
Best,
Brian

GIO · 15th October 2013, 02:54 PM

My personal opinion:
clean the blade and, if possible, etch it. A real pamor may appear.
Throw away hilt and scabbard. You will easily find a better hilt, but not a scabbard, also due to the size of the blade.
The mendak (better "UWER" - thanks for correcting me, Jean) is good.

14th October 2013, 09:52 PM	#6
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Large Keris Greetings, Thanks to all who have contributed their expert opinions. I am quite happy to accept that the Keris is of souvenir quality, as I did not pay much for it. But, it looks great as a display piece! Best, Brian

14th October 2013, 09:50 AM	#1
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	This style of ugly scabbard and hilt was still made during my last visit to Bali in 2007 but I agree with Alan that the blade seems to be a common quality one with some age and without pamor which was "treated" to make it more attractive. Personally I would try to clean the blade in vinegar which should remove the residual rust and fake pamor, and stain it again. Regards

14th October 2013, 12:18 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	Yes Jean, still made, but of very poor quality. The early ones could often be very good examples of skilled carving.

14th October 2013, 03:26 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,228	I think you are right Alan and i did rush to judgement to refer to this as a "KLO". I believe that you are correct that it is a rather low quality "real" blade that has been "upgraded" for more commercial appeal, though i can't imagine this was done for the indigenous market (but who knows). The dress is a better carving than some of the examples i have seen of this dress form and i am of the mind as well that a good example of this dress does have a place in a well balanced collection and indeed have one with a much better blade in my own collection. While this form has become synonymous with the classic tourist keris i have also heard it referred to as "dance dress". I have thrown the question out before as to whether or not this could be the origins of such dress, but have never received and definite confirmation on that question. Brian, i am with Jean in the suggestion that you try to clean and restain this blade in order to remove the nasty fake pamor.

14th October 2013, 08:18 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I completely agree with Alan. It is one of the better examples I've seen. And I've seen a lot of these cheap fake kerisses on the Dutch Indonesian markets with blades cut from sheetmetal. Fake pamor? Yes and no. Probably a pamorless blade that turned into a pamorblade by the batik treatment.

14th October 2013, 08:39 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	No, this false pamor would probably not have been done for any other reason but to make the keris more attractive as a souvenir, as you say David, not for the local market, but for the visitors. In fact, I feel that a close examination would show that this blade might have a pamor sanak. In the close up I think I can see one area of blade where there is a distinct separation between core and outer layers, so it just might have outer layers of plain iron, which by their nature would have needed to be welded and folded, which technically becomes pamor sanak. I don't think we can call this type of keris a dance keris. Yeah, sure, this type or any other type might be used as a dance prop, but that is not its purpose. In fact, in Bali these days a lot of Balinese wear Javanese keris. You see the people whose job it is to keep order in public gatherings wearing low quality Javanese gayamans, I'd guess these are owned by the local banjar or banjars and given to these Harmony Keepers for the duration of the event. For the future of this blade I'm with Jean & David:- get rid of the lies and let it be itself.

15th October 2013, 02:54 PM	#7
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 329	My personal opinion: clean the blade and, if possible, etch it. A real pamor may appear. Throw away hilt and scabbard. You will easily find a better hilt, but not a scabbard, also due to the size of the blade. The mendak (better "UWER" - thanks for correcting me, Jean) is good.