Keris-Yogya nice wood Waranka

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Roland, it seems to me that the quality you like in that wrongko wood is its chatoyancy. There are a lot of chatoyant woods available, and it would surprise me if you could not source something suitable from a specialist supplier in your part of the world. You could start by looking for pau marfin, bubinga, fiddle back maple, sapele --- lots of stuff around, it will most likely be quarter sawn. Maybe just doing a Google search for "chatoyant wood" will give you some results. Knife makers supplies and musical instrument supplies and makers are often a good source of quality woods.

Hello Alan,

thank you for your advise! The term "Chatoyant Wood" is a great step forward for me!
Oh and I like everything on my Waranka, the carving including its imperfections, the structure and color, the silky gloss of the wood, simply everything.
And to me it seems, that no one shares my admiration for this Keris, so this wonderful little artwork (in my eyes) was perhaps made especially for me and my perception.


Roland

[David]

Originally Posted by Roland_M

Oh and I like everything on my Waranka, the carving including its imperfections, the structure and color, the silky gloss of the wood, simply everything.
And to me it seems, that no one shares my admiration for this Keris, so this wonderful little artwork (in my eyes) was perhaps made especially for me and my perception.

Well, i have found that is the way it goes with keris. We are drawn to certain pieces for reasons beyond quality and craft. Your blade does not particularly stand out to me, but for you it is a "little artwork" and that is what is ultimately important.
I will, however, share you admiration of this wrongko. The wood grain is absolutely beautiful to my eye. Really lovely. I will second Alan's comments on Birchwood Casey Try-Oil. I have used it myself and it is really easy and produces a really nice finish. I simply applied a few coats (taking it down a bit with 0000 steel wool each time. I finally finish like the would really pop the grain even more.

[Jean]

Hello Roland,
Trembalo Jawa is Cassia Javanica L. but your highly chatoyant warangka seems to be made from rarer trembalo Aceh wood (a different species).
See an old warangka iras from Yogyakarta made from the same wood as yours I think.
Regards