Cleaning and polishing my bali-keris

[njo kesasar]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I would be inclined to leave this keris exactly as it is.

I rather feel that attempting to alter the intentionally created appearance of this keris might result in some unintended surprises.

Alan,
I do agree with you to leave (certain) things as they are, got curious though to the material of the hilt. I followed the tips I received however before your reply reached me. I won´t say I´m disappointed so far because here are the results of an overnight soaking (two times) in denture cleaning tablets (as an addition to the tip of Asomotif ) and brushing with oil and toothpaste. I think it is bone material, don´t know what bone though, could be deer as well as karbau ??
Don´t know either who this is, Hanuhman or Sugriva or ........? Can´t find a tail at his back and wonder what he is carrying in both right (rujakpolo?) and left hand. Some surprises? Yes, there is some damage, deep scratches at the chest and lime at the jaw. Well, it is as it is. Decided to leave the pendok as is, because I noticed some detachment at the side of the pendok.
Regards, njo
To anybody
Any comment on the figure is very welcome: who, what etc etc

[David]

Might be your photography again, but frankly this material looks a lot more like some kind of composite material to me.

[njo kesasar]

Originally Posted by David

Might be your photography again, but frankly this material looks a lot more like some kind of composite material to me.

Ignorent guy (me) David, how can I determine composite material?

[Rick]

The red hot pin test .
Poke it somewhere it will not be noticed .

Go by the resulting smoke smell .

[David]

Originally Posted by Rick

The red hot pin test .
Poke it somewhere it will not be noticed .

Go by the resulting smoke smell .

Rick, he said he did the needle test in his first post, but i wasn't clear as to the result. This stuff looks very suspect to be though. It doesn't look like a natural material in many of the close-ups.

[Rick]

Ah, I missed that David .

I see what may be a casting bubble in the third picture down in post 15; look at the crown, right hand side .

There seems to be a certain translucency to the material; the darker, more porous areas would indicate bone or horn .

A puzzler .

Njo, what did the hot pin test smell like ?

[asomotif]

Hello Njo,

Interesting result after cleaning.
The surface looks crystaline in some places.
Especially the pictures from the bottom.

And indeed translucent in some areas.
Based on these pictures I would almost say that it is some kind of stone / marble like material.

Is it heavy ??

Ps. what did the hot pin test do ? Any smell of burned hair
If it is a sort of stone a hot pin would do nothing I guess.

Maybe you can finish the hilt with some dark antique wax an rub that out again. Tha will accentuate the carvings and relief again.
Although now cleaned the carvings look better than before cleaning

Best regards,
Willem