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Originally Posted by David
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Actually that was what I wanted to tell you too, David. I promise I will provide the more complete informations on that. (Still searching my handwriting notes on that).
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Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
I have not been in Jakarta since 1978.
In 1976 I visted the old Musium Pusat, which I believe is now the National Musium.I photographed every keris that was on display. A check of those 30+ year old photos does not seem to show this keris. So let's assume it was in storage at that time --- either that or I missed ir, but frankly, I doubt that I did.
So Pak Ganja, my questions are these:-
do we know which Sultan of Banten owned this keris?
do we know when the Museum acquired this keris?
do we have provenance for this keris?
Indeed, a very interesting piece.
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The old Museum, AFAIK has not changed much. Still as in 1970-s, except the monitoring cameras in almost every corners of the "khasanah emas" (gold treasury) in the 2nd floor in the old museum and 4th floor in the new museum just next to the old building -- and the prohibition warnings of taking photos, except with very special written permission from the Museum Department.
Fortunately, I was having a special permision for taking pictures on 5 (five) selected kerises last year -- including this Sultan Banten's keris -- and for publishing the pictures for non-commercial but cultural purpose during the Keris Exhibition in Bentara Budaya Jakarta on August 2008.
So, if you want to take any photo of the museum collection, then you must have written permission from your institution, and must mention which pieces -- one by one -- you want to photography. The process takes days of permission by phone. Then, if you have the agreed time to take the photos, it needs some more certain conditions such as: (1) the photo-session must be witnessed by the head of the Anthropological Departement of the Museum, (2) witnessed by the head of Archeological Dept of the Museum, (3) witnessed by the Museum security during the photo session, (4) the museum official will take for you the pieces one by one, not altogether -- it means that the worker of the museum will unclose the glass box, heavy glass box, and take the pieces you want, (5) you must wear special gloves from the museum to handle the kerises, (6) almost impossible to take photo without sufficient digital apparels, because of the gloomy lignt in the museum -- and prohibited to take the pieces outside the museum, except with very very special permission from the state for a special exhibition.
So, it was almost impossible for me to take the whole collection (tens, or even hundred pieces of kerises) of the museum, even by snapshot. The glass will reflect your own face. And the security camera behind you will always watch you at anytime... And not all the kerises are unsheated -- like the examples below (some closed kerises, but fortunately, I have permission to see one or two of them unsheated)...
Anyway, later I will provide the more complete informations on what you have asked... Thanks for the response
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Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul
Ganjawulung, perhaps it would've helped if you had explained that staining was not a traditional Soenda custom. This only started to become fashionable after the beginning of the 17th. C., when the Soenda (except Banten & Cirebon) had little choice but to become part of Mataram (Islam). A lot of Djawa culture then began to enter the Soenda culture, usually brought back by Soenda ruling class who had 'served their time' in Mataram.(e.g. the Gamelan is a prime example).
If the keris is a kadaton heirloom, then it was likely returned by the Dutch. Kadaton kerises disappeared after the dissolution of the Banten Sultanate. Some came to be in the possession of Chinese merchants. Others were already in Dutch museums.
Best,
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Yes Amuk, staining is not this museum's tradition too. They are preserving the kerises with the more specific as preserving old and precious museum collection... Yes, some of the heirlooms, came from Dutch authority in the Netherland, from the Dutch museums... Including one of the most famous "Ken Dedes" statue (Pradnjaparamita) from Singasari era, once belonged to Rijkmuseum in Holland...
GANJAWULUNG