Handsome guy :D
 

Introducing my latest keris. Actually, he is the latest one that I received, not the latest one I bought. I actually acquired him 7 months ago!!! He was bogged down in bureaucratic export red tapes, and then got snarled by profiteering shippers who quoted exorbitant shipping rates -> USD475 just to ship him!!!

Anyway, looking at him now, it was all worth it. But had him not been better than in the pictures, he would have been sorely overpriced (not the least due to the shipping). However, I'm sure some fellow forumnites would still find this keris overpriced after looking at the pictures. All I have to say is that this keris represents nearly the best of old N. Malayan keris-making. While it is not flashy like Javanese or Balinese kerises, I besiege you to find and appreciate the grace and subtleties, starting from the sheath and the wood, then to the blade and the metal. Beauty may not be apparent at first sight (and I know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder :D ). Maybe the keris will "makan mata" (literally "eat your eyes"), which roughly means the keris may grow on you. :)

http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...view_album.php

Oh come on Kai Wee, it shouldn't be too hard for anyone to see the beauty in this one. :) Wow! No, it doesn't have some of the complexities of Javanese or Bali blades, especially in the pamor catagory, but the sublty of the ricikan is just lovely.
But where on Earth was this baby shipped from to cost you $475. :eek: I would think that you could have practically travelled to pick it up yourself for that kind of cash. :)
Thanks for sharing.

Well, you are experienced in keris matters, so you were not the intended audience for my message. :p :D

No "naming and shaming", I'll just say it's from Europe.

BluErf,
An excellent addition to your already high quality collection of N. Malaysia/South Thailand pieces. Congratulations! :D

BluErf, I thought your soon to be wedding may slow you down a little but it seems you're still in full swing...:D. Great piece and carry on sharing...

Alam Shah, I thought someone else is also adding a stocky Penghulu Bugis to the collection after having gone though a fierce bidding battle and looking forward to seeing more pictures of your piece in due course :D.

Great Keris!

I agree it's even better than the original pictures.
And now maybe we are even with the Karih? ;)
Congratulations and I am happy that you were the one that won it instead of some guy who maybe didn't know what it really was and wouldn't appreciate it as much.
I also have had my problems with bringing out weapons from that country.
Even if it's within Europe it once took over 2 months and was more expensive in shipping than anything I bought from overseas.

Michael

Well it did! Instead of 1 piece a month, its become 1 piece every few months. heheheh! :D Anyway, really, I have slowed down a lot since last April.

Michael, I'm shocked to hear that the problem also affects European countries. Hmm... maybe we should set up an agency and offer shipping at half their prices. We'd still make handsome profits, I'm sure! :)

As they say in Russia " If drinking interferes with your work performance, it's time to quit your job" :D :D

Haha! That saying does have a tinge of cynical Russian sense of humour attached to it. :D