Is this a tourist trap or a real deal?

David · 9th July 2018, 04:07 AM

Well Green, i don't really know what you mean by tourist trap. This is a modern era art keris that dies seem to have at least some good craft applied. As such it is very collectable if that is within the realm of keris that one chooses to collect. But i don't know of any accepted dhapur that combines both the singo and naga motifs in a single blade so i don't see this keris as having any practical place within the social structure of Javanese keris culture, nor does the dress seem right for anything other than display.
I am not sure what the hilt material is exactly. The spot at the top looks mineralized making me wonder if this is some kind of partly fossilized ivory, but i don't really know.

9th July 2018, 04:07 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,237	Well Green, i don't really know what you mean by tourist trap. This is a modern era art keris that dies seem to have at least some good craft applied. As such it is very collectable if that is within the realm of keris that one chooses to collect. But i don't know of any accepted dhapur that combines both the singo and naga motifs in a single blade so i don't see this keris as having any practical place within the social structure of Javanese keris culture, nor does the dress seem right for anything other than display. I am not sure what the hilt material is exactly. The spot at the top looks mineralized making me wonder if this is some kind of partly fossilized ivory, but i don't really know.