New Keris Owner

doecon · 18th May 2006, 12:38 PM

Alan, Alam, of course one should appreciate gifts as they are. But IP himself seems to be rather eager to get estimated value (also on the swordforum), it wouldn’t be my first reaction as well, but then again my sister only brought me a t-shirt from her latest trip: )

I do however find it a bit odd that one (or ones sister) expects to find “treasures” in typical tourist areas. Yogjakarta “guards” do give regular keris-standing-performances and make additional income by selling keris to tourists (or to people that live in Jakarta for 10 years but travel with a translator (see IPs first post)). “Mister wanna buy keris?” is not an uncommon question for visitors in this area, some of the guards can even count perfectly in more then 10 languages, so go figure.

Maybe more experienced travelers are aware that you can’t easily find Faraotreasures in front of an Egyptian tourist station, or Incagold in your Yucatan resort, priceless ruby at the entrance of Thai temples. But for those that seriously think you can still find a priceless keris offered by a Jogya keraton guard, please think again.

I don’t want to rub anything in, but think its good to have some reality check.

Alan mentioned that it might be a keris of the Nginden class. I guess it’s not recommended to fuel any speculation in this direction. First it obviously isn’t anywhere near a Nginden keris and second, the guard, for sure, would have sold it for real prices if it was (they are being traded for al least 2500). I sympathize with IP (or his sister) having had one illusion already, so no need to create another one.

Rick · 18th May 2006, 02:24 PM

doecon , let's just drop the subject of whether the poster's Sister got 'taken' or not .
Further discussion of this aspect will no doubt annoy the hell out of me .

Jeff D · 18th May 2006, 04:26 PM

Hi scattered,

Here is my first "ethnographic" weapon. I paid a similar amount as your sister did. The good news is it led me here and opened a whole new world for me. You never know.

All the Best
Jeff

scatteredminds · 18th May 2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff D

Hi scattered,

Here is my first "ethnographic" weapon. I paid a similar amount as your sister did. The good news is it led me here and opened a whole new world for me. You never know.

All the Best
Jeff

Jeff on this point I agree. I have searched the Internet for a knowkedgable forum and I feel I have hit the motherload here. I, once again, agree with Rick. Price is now a moot point. I have begun a new journey of knowledge into a world I find addicting with a group of people I hope to consider friends.
I am new but am now thirst for knowledge not appraisals.

Alam Shah · 18th May 2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scatteredminds

I have begun a new journey of knowledge into a world I find addicting with a group of people I hope to consider friends. I am new but am now thirst for knowledge not appraisals.

May I suggest reading this thread, on keris books.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=keris+books

nechesh · 18th May 2006, 08:12 PM

Jeff, though the dress on your keris is somewhat "touristy" that looks like a nice solid Balinese piece, though i wouldn't pay as much as it sounds like you may have paid for it. The the blade looks like nice quality from this distance.

Rick · 18th May 2006, 08:29 PM

Agreed !

I think both of you guys did okay compared to my first keris ..

BluErf · 21st May 2006, 06:40 AM

Hey Scattered,

Its a nice keris. It has a good sheath with nice pelet wood, a decent silver oversheath profusely repoussed with vegetation and animals. The hilt is of a good form, with well-carved patra. The mandak fits, and the blade looks late 19th century - mid 20th century. It has been recently re-washed, so it looks 'new'. You could have done a lot worse buying from some dealers elsewhere.

Anyway, your 1st keris is much better than my 1st keris, so appreciate and enjoy it!

There's always a 'better' keris of a 'cheaper' keris, just like there will always be a more beautiful person or a richer person. So how to we get settled down with that one special person who is neither the most beautiful, the smartest or the richest and still be happy? I guess its the same principle here.

At any rate, it does not need further cleaning. Do remember to oil it regularly, but remember to clean off all the oil you can before putting it back in the sheath; you don't want to end up staining the sheath with oil. Anyway, a keris blade cleaned with oil and blotted dry will stay rust-free longer than a blade with oil left on it. That tends to attract dust and the residual gunk when it dries promotes rust.

In short, you have a respectable keris.

Jeff - your keris may have a terrible sheath and hilt, but it has a beautiful blade. I think you might not have had such a bad deal. Just get it redressed in traditional sheath and hilt forms and you are going to have a very nice appropriate keris.

BluErf · 21st May 2006, 06:47 AM

Scattered,

One more thing - remember to use a bit of wood oil to nourish the hilt and the sheath once every couple of months. You don't want the wood to dry out and start to warp and crack. That would be a terrible shame!!

Jeff,

Corrections - your blade is not just beautiful - it's very graceful. Notice the sweet manner in which the luks meanders, the good spine on the blade which would have taken a long time to polish out of the billet, and nice arch to the ganja, the gracefully curling yet meaty kembang kacang (classical feature in good Balinese blades), and finally notice the way the sogokan follows the first luk.

Try to have a proper sheath and hilt commissioned for it; it deserves it.

18th May 2006, 04:26 PM	#3
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi scattered, Here is my first "ethnographic" weapon. I paid a similar amount as your sister did. The good news is it led me here and opened a whole new world for me. You never know. All the Best Jeff Attached Images

18th May 2006, 12:38 PM	#1
doecon Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 63	Alan, Alam, of course one should appreciate gifts as they are. But IP himself seems to be rather eager to get estimated value (also on the swordforum), it wouldn’t be my first reaction as well, but then again my sister only brought me a t-shirt from her latest trip: ) I do however find it a bit odd that one (or ones sister) expects to find “treasures” in typical tourist areas. Yogjakarta “guards” do give regular keris-standing-performances and make additional income by selling keris to tourists (or to people that live in Jakarta for 10 years but travel with a translator (see IPs first post)). “Mister wanna buy keris?” is not an uncommon question for visitors in this area, some of the guards can even count perfectly in more then 10 languages, so go figure. Maybe more experienced travelers are aware that you can’t easily find Faraotreasures in front of an Egyptian tourist station, or Incagold in your Yucatan resort, priceless ruby at the entrance of Thai temples. But for those that seriously think you can still find a priceless keris offered by a Jogya keraton guard, please think again. I don’t want to rub anything in, but think its good to have some reality check. Alan mentioned that it might be a keris of the Nginden class. I guess it’s not recommended to fuel any speculation in this direction. First it obviously isn’t anywhere near a Nginden keris and second, the guard, for sure, would have sold it for real prices if it was (they are being traded for al least 2500). I sympathize with IP (or his sister) having had one illusion already, so no need to create another one.

18th May 2006, 02:24 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	doecon , let's just drop the subject of whether the poster's Sister got 'taken' or not . Further discussion of this aspect will no doubt annoy the hell out of me .

18th May 2006, 08:12 PM	#6
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Jeff, though the dress on your keris is somewhat "touristy" that looks like a nice solid Balinese piece, though i wouldn't pay as much as it sounds like you may have paid for it. The the blade looks like nice quality from this distance.

18th May 2006, 08:29 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Agreed ! I think both of you guys did okay compared to my first keris ..

21st May 2006, 06:40 AM	#8
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Hey Scattered, Its a nice keris. It has a good sheath with nice pelet wood, a decent silver oversheath profusely repoussed with vegetation and animals. The hilt is of a good form, with well-carved patra. The mandak fits, and the blade looks late 19th century - mid 20th century. It has been recently re-washed, so it looks 'new'. You could have done a lot worse buying from some dealers elsewhere. Anyway, your 1st keris is much better than my 1st keris, so appreciate and enjoy it! There's always a 'better' keris of a 'cheaper' keris, just like there will always be a more beautiful person or a richer person. So how to we get settled down with that one special person who is neither the most beautiful, the smartest or the richest and still be happy? I guess its the same principle here. At any rate, it does not need further cleaning. Do remember to oil it regularly, but remember to clean off all the oil you can before putting it back in the sheath; you don't want to end up staining the sheath with oil. Anyway, a keris blade cleaned with oil and blotted dry will stay rust-free longer than a blade with oil left on it. That tends to attract dust and the residual gunk when it dries promotes rust. In short, you have a respectable keris. Jeff - your keris may have a terrible sheath and hilt, but it has a beautiful blade. I think you might not have had such a bad deal. Just get it redressed in traditional sheath and hilt forms and you are going to have a very nice appropriate keris.

21st May 2006, 06:47 AM	#9
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Scattered, One more thing - remember to use a bit of wood oil to nourish the hilt and the sheath once every couple of months. You don't want the wood to dry out and start to warp and crack. That would be a terrible shame!! Jeff, Corrections - your blade is not just beautiful - it's very graceful. Notice the sweet manner in which the luks meanders, the good spine on the blade which would have taken a long time to polish out of the billet, and nice arch to the ganja, the gracefully curling yet meaty kembang kacang (classical feature in good Balinese blades), and finally notice the way the sogokan follows the first luk. Try to have a proper sheath and hilt commissioned for it; it deserves it.