Neka

Mick · 27th March 2008, 04:58 PM

Are they serious?

Lew · 27th March 2008, 05:21 PM

I must agree with David these are recently made keris the blades look like good Maduran made copies to me. I see that there is a secondary bevel on the edges of the blades that is a dead give away

Lew

brekele · 27th March 2008, 07:18 PM

Keris with dapur Kilin and Nogo Sapto are look very nice.

Even both of them it seem new made (tangguh kamardikan).

hhmm.......nice object to painted

olalaa...

bre

David · 27th March 2008, 07:22 PM

From the museum's website comes this discription which i assume is the exhibit in question:
Dozens of antique and new keris from the collection of Suteja Neka, paintings from the Neka Art Museum with keris in them along with photographs by its curator Garrett Kam showing keris in Balinese costumes, ceremonies and dances are highlighted. This will be complemented by an exhibition of traditional Balinese paintings from private collections in Jakarta organized by Larasati Auctioneers and Friends of Larasati. Two books will be launched: The Neka Art Museum in Modern Balinese History: Art and the Passage of Time by Garrett Kam, and Mimpi Jadi Kenyata an compiled by Kardi Suteja and Wahyu Suteja, sons of Suteja Neka and Gusti Made Srimin. NOTE: The opening gala event is by invitation only.
They do mention that at least some of these keris are new and i would suspect that Madura is a likely source for them. They do seem like nice examples of new work so i don't see much problem with it if they are indeed presented as such. I wonder what the balance of new/old pieces is for this show. The one "old" keris photo that they show on the site is too small to tell much, but is described as the 17th century royal keris Ki Baju Rante (Venerable Armored Coat).

A. G. Maisey · 28th March 2008, 12:02 AM

Yes, the close-ups are of recent keris, but they appear to be very fine recent keris.

In Indonesia today fine keris by the top current makers are highly regarded as serious art-work, they command very high prices, and are often sold before they are finished.

Lew, when you say:- "---there is a secondary bevel on the edges of the blades that is a dead give away---" I suspect that you are probably talking about the kusen (also "gusen"). The kusen is a correct feature of any high quality blade in good condition, you will find it in well maintained Surakarta blades of the 19th century, and it exists on older blades that left Jawa and Bali when they were still new. It is not found in blades that lack artistic excellence, and it is not found in blades where considerable erosion has occurred, but we do expect to see this feature in any well maintained blade with any pretensions at all to artistic expression.

I have spoken with several people who have visited this Neka gallery, and by all accounts it is a truly beautiful exhibition of the art of the keris.

27th March 2008, 07:22 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,049	From the museum's website comes this discription which i assume is the exhibit in question: Dozens of antique and new keris from the collection of Suteja Neka, paintings from the Neka Art Museum with keris in them along with photographs by its curator Garrett Kam showing keris in Balinese costumes, ceremonies and dances are highlighted. This will be complemented by an exhibition of traditional Balinese paintings from private collections in Jakarta organized by Larasati Auctioneers and Friends of Larasati. Two books will be launched: The Neka Art Museum in Modern Balinese History: Art and the Passage of Time by Garrett Kam, and Mimpi Jadi Kenyata an compiled by Kardi Suteja and Wahyu Suteja, sons of Suteja Neka and Gusti Made Srimin. NOTE: The opening gala event is by invitation only. They do mention that at least some of these keris are new and i would suspect that Madura is a likely source for them. They do seem like nice examples of new work so i don't see much problem with it if they are indeed presented as such. I wonder what the balance of new/old pieces is for this show. The one "old" keris photo that they show on the site is too small to tell much, but is described as the 17th century royal keris Ki Baju Rante (Venerable Armored Coat). Attached Images

27th March 2008, 04:58 PM	#1
Mick Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Orlando Posts: 104	Are they serious?

27th March 2008, 05:21 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I must agree with David these are recently made keris the blades look like good Maduran made copies to me. I see that there is a secondary bevel on the edges of the blades that is a dead give away Lew

27th March 2008, 07:18 PM	#3
brekele Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 208	Keris with dapur Kilin and Nogo Sapto are look very nice. Even both of them it seem new made (tangguh kamardikan). hhmm.......nice object to painted olalaa... bre

28th March 2008, 12:02 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,742	Yes, the close-ups are of recent keris, but they appear to be very fine recent keris. In Indonesia today fine keris by the top current makers are highly regarded as serious art-work, they command very high prices, and are often sold before they are finished. Lew, when you say:- "---there is a secondary bevel on the edges of the blades that is a dead give away---" I suspect that you are probably talking about the kusen (also "gusen"). The kusen is a correct feature of any high quality blade in good condition, you will find it in well maintained Surakarta blades of the 19th century, and it exists on older blades that left Jawa and Bali when they were still new. It is not found in blades that lack artistic excellence, and it is not found in blades where considerable erosion has occurred, but we do expect to see this feature in any well maintained blade with any pretensions at all to artistic expression. I have spoken with several people who have visited this Neka gallery, and by all accounts it is a truly beautiful exhibition of the art of the keris.