Balinese Keris Exhibition in Hollenstedt, Germany

Jean · 30th August 2016, 09:34 AM

Thank you Alan for your detailed and thorough reply, especially the difference between pamor Ilining Warih and Adeg.
I hope that you will have the opportunity to see the catalog yourself for getting a more complete idea. What disturbs me as I said is that a number of blades identified with pamor Ilining Warih do not show principally parallel layers of materials.
And about the pictures, sorry I should have said too dark shade instead of colour.
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 30th August 2016, 02:11 PM

I understood what you meant about the pics Jean, no problems there.

I doubt that I'll see the catalogue Jean. What you say about the contents I find disappointing, so I'm most certainly not going to waste my money on a book that is riddled with error on something as simple as the thing we have been discussing.

I have seen a parade of books about keris over the last 20 years or so.

A parade.

All waving their multi-coloured flags and all babbling on about irrelevancies.

Lots of pretty pictures of things that the authors do not seem to have even the smallest understanding of.

The foundations of my own knowledge came from a man who never wrote a book.

But his constant criticism was this:-

"If somebody wants to write about keris, why don't they learn about keris before they start to write?"

I've felt the same way for a long time now.

Jean · 31st August 2016, 04:39 PM

Hello Alan,
Of course you won't learn anything from this catalogue but in spite of my specific comments I would not want to leave a negative opinion to other collectors. The effort from the authors is still appreciated and the booklet attractive to read for most kris collectors, and after all there are only few books relevant to the Balinese krisses (Neka and Dibia, and Djelenga for the krisses from Lombok).
Regards

Marcokeris · 31st August 2016, 05:02 PM

I have red the book and I think it is very well done and perfect with the museum exhibition and good to increase the interest in the kris to those who still do not know them.

A. G. Maisey · 31st August 2016, 11:47 PM

Jean, I have not read the book, nor have I seen the exhibition, and because of this I have not given either a positive or a negative opinion on either.

I have made comments, and those comments are based on what you and others have said

Certainly I have indicated that I will not spend the E38 + postage on a book that from all reports appears to be a very well presented book of very good photographs, but which appears not to address any matters that could be of interest to me personally.

Frankly I'm fed up with opening books full of pretty pictures which address the keris as an art work. These books have been appearing with great regularity for about the last 20 years.

I'm well aware that I'm out on a limb, all by myself, in this attitude, and I am sure that the vast bulk of collectors, as distinct from students of the keris, do not share my attitude. So surely, this catalogue of the exhibition will be welcomed by keris collectors who are unable to attend the exhibition in person.

My greatest disappointment is that according to the comments I have read here, and in personal correspondence, the involvement of Achim Weihrauch did not result in text that was other than superficial commentary. I suppose this is understandable in a catalogue of an exhibition that is directed at a wide audience, however, in such a publication the benchmark is Solyom, and in his catalogue he managed to produce the best single reference on the Javanese keris that has yet been published.

Something similar on the Balinese keris would have been very nice.

kai · 16th November 2016, 07:35 AM

The IFICAH exhibition on keris Bali is going to close soon and will only be open for visits on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

The catalog is now available for download:
Full version in German

English version without the catalog section

For the time being, utilize the German version to get a glimpse on the keris in the exhibition; I'll post an update once the full version becomes available soon...

If you happen to like the book, hard copies in English or German are still available for €38 plus postage from the IFICAH foundation.

Regards,
Kai

Battara · 16th November 2016, 04:07 PM

Many thanks Kai (especially for those of us who can't get there before the closing).

16th November 2016, 07:35 AM	#6
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	2 last days of the exhibition! The IFICAH exhibition on keris Bali is going to close soon and will only be open for visits on Wednesday and Thursday this week. The catalog is now available for download: Full version in German English version without the catalog section For the time being, utilize the German version to get a glimpse on the keris in the exhibition; I'll post an update once the full version becomes available soon... If you happen to like the book, hard copies in English or German are still available for €38 plus postage from the IFICAH foundation. Regards, Kai

30th August 2016, 09:34 AM	#1
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Thank you Alan for your detailed and thorough reply, especially the difference between pamor Ilining Warih and Adeg. I hope that you will have the opportunity to see the catalog yourself for getting a more complete idea. What disturbs me as I said is that a number of blades identified with pamor Ilining Warih do not show principally parallel layers of materials. And about the pictures, sorry I should have said too dark shade instead of colour. Regards

30th August 2016, 02:11 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	I understood what you meant about the pics Jean, no problems there. I doubt that I'll see the catalogue Jean. What you say about the contents I find disappointing, so I'm most certainly not going to waste my money on a book that is riddled with error on something as simple as the thing we have been discussing. I have seen a parade of books about keris over the last 20 years or so. A parade. All waving their multi-coloured flags and all babbling on about irrelevancies. Lots of pretty pictures of things that the authors do not seem to have even the smallest understanding of. The foundations of my own knowledge came from a man who never wrote a book. But his constant criticism was this:- "If somebody wants to write about keris, why don't they learn about keris before they start to write?" I've felt the same way for a long time now.

31st August 2016, 04:39 PM	#3
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Hello Alan, Of course you won't learn anything from this catalogue but in spite of my specific comments I would not want to leave a negative opinion to other collectors. The effort from the authors is still appreciated and the booklet attractive to read for most kris collectors, and after all there are only few books relevant to the Balinese krisses (Neka and Dibia, and Djelenga for the krisses from Lombok). Regards

31st August 2016, 05:02 PM	#4
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	I have red the book and I think it is very well done and perfect with the museum exhibition and good to increase the interest in the kris to those who still do not know them.

31st August 2016, 11:47 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Jean, I have not read the book, nor have I seen the exhibition, and because of this I have not given either a positive or a negative opinion on either. I have made comments, and those comments are based on what you and others have said Certainly I have indicated that I will not spend the E38 + postage on a book that from all reports appears to be a very well presented book of very good photographs, but which appears not to address any matters that could be of interest to me personally. Frankly I'm fed up with opening books full of pretty pictures which address the keris as an art work. These books have been appearing with great regularity for about the last 20 years. I'm well aware that I'm out on a limb, all by myself, in this attitude, and I am sure that the vast bulk of collectors, as distinct from students of the keris, do not share my attitude. So surely, this catalogue of the exhibition will be welcomed by keris collectors who are unable to attend the exhibition in person. My greatest disappointment is that according to the comments I have read here, and in personal correspondence, the involvement of Achim Weihrauch did not result in text that was other than superficial commentary. I suppose this is understandable in a catalogue of an exhibition that is directed at a wide audience, however, in such a publication the benchmark is Solyom, and in his catalogue he managed to produce the best single reference on the Javanese keris that has yet been published. Something similar on the Balinese keris would have been very nice.

16th November 2016, 04:07 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Many thanks Kai (especially for those of us who can't get there before the closing).