Latest acquisition

Pendita65 · 27th December 2023, 08:34 PM

Hi All,

I bought several items at an auction in the Netherlands a golok, a Keris Yogyakarta Gayaman and a Tombak with sheath the tombak shows pamor

And a nice 19th/ early 20th Century Keris with a Warangka Gayaman (Kayu Pelet), Ivory Madura Ukiran. Silvered Selut with stones. The Wilah inlaid with dots and carved with a Naga and 11 Luk. A silvered pendok that needs restoration. I already restored the mendak as it fell apart so I made a new inner sleeve where all the parts slide over and hammered it carefully together again.
I am not sure if the inlay is gold but it looks like it.

Hope to learn more about this Keris through the forum.

Thanks and best wishes, Martin.

David · 28th December 2023, 05:38 PM

Hi Martin. For me it is really difficult to give a good assessment of this keris based on the photographs you have provided. First off o would like to see the blade photographed flat, not approaching from the an angle as you have, so that i can see the actual proportion of the blade elements. Also an image of the entire blade in one photograph would be helpful. Try to photograph it in better, even light so that that you can get sharper, more detailed images. Overcast skies can provide a nice even lighting for this. I don't think the blade is particularly old given the way the features (naga and greneng) have been carved, so it is strange to see the hole worn through the blade (usually this would be caused by many generations to acid washing). So i am not certain if this blade was intentionally aged or not. Better photos might answer that question.
Your hilt does appear to be old ivory and this type of hilt is from East Jawa/Madura and is called Donoriko. Yours does not seem to have been carved with a great deal of detail as some others and it has a good bit of damage. But again, better photos would be helpful.

Sajen · 30th December 2023, 12:25 PM

Hello Martin,

I agree with David, better pictures would be very helpful.
But I think that the blade is kamardikan and crudely executed. The handle is antique but not worked with great skill and very worn, compare it with other donoriko hilts (just use by the search function the keyword "donoriko").

Regards,
Detlef

Pendita65 · 30th December 2023, 03:08 PM

Hello David and Detlef,

Thank you for the information, I see there is more to learn for me.

I will see if it stays in the collection. The other Keris has an interesting blade that is covered in a dammar varnish that I need to remove. Will post pictures soon. The gander is almost complete gone and the pendok was filled with old newspaper so that the Keris fitted well. The pendok has some serious dents damage. Must see if I keep it that way or if I can repair it.

Best wishes, Martin

A. G. Maisey · 30th December 2023, 11:33 PM

In respect of the dragon blade.

It is not an old one, "old" being back into the 19th century --- this "old" idea can wander around more or less according to the feelings of the person who is providing the opinion, so "old" might be pre-1640 or so, or it might be 1978 or so.

My feeling about this particular blade is that it could be 1920's through to mid-1970's, before 1980, but excluding +/- the period of Japanese occupation during WWII.

The hilt is not a masterpiece, as already noted, but it is true to form and all keris & their dress do come in varying qualities, the difference between best & lesser items is usually expressed in $$$$.

Regarding the Jogja keris.
Varnish is easy to remove, depending on exactly what kind of "varnish" it is it might move with methylated spirits, or you might need some other solvent, but it will come off.

The pendok should not be much of a job to straighten out, a piece of 1cm round steel bar clamed horizontal in a vice & inserted into the pendok will permit the dents to be straightened out, finger pressure is usually enough.

A new gandar can be made in two halves & then fitted to the gambar (atasan), and a few spots of Araldite or similar adhesive along the joint will hold the two halves in place. If the gambar has a foot, button shellac might be the wisest adhesive to use for fixing gandar to gambar, I say "wisest" because a button shellac joint is easily detached and gives you the opportunity to correct a poor fit.

All these items can be brought back to decent condition without much effort.

Pendita65 · 31st December 2023, 04:17 PM

Mr. Maisey,
Thank you for your response to my posting. And I think it,s made before WW2.But I can’t prove this.

There was dammar varnish also on the tombak and this I scraped of with my thumbnail. I will do that with the Keris blade as well. As a teacher in furniture restoration the woodwork ain’t a problem. I haven’t found out what kind of wood the gander is made off. It is a very light wood and to my feeling the sapwood part of wood but what species I don’t, have a clue.
Can I ask you what you mean with a foot at a gambar ?
I post some pics of the Javanese Keris. I think underneath the varnish is a nice pamor as you can see in the picture.

Best wishes for 2024 as at your part it already is the new year.

Martin

27th December 2023, 08:34 PM	#1
Pendita65 Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 99	Latest acquisition Hi All, I bought several items at an auction in the Netherlands a golok, a Keris Yogyakarta Gayaman and a Tombak with sheath the tombak shows pamor And a nice 19th/ early 20th Century Keris with a Warangka Gayaman (Kayu Pelet), Ivory Madura Ukiran. Silvered Selut with stones. The Wilah inlaid with dots and carved with a Naga and 11 Luk. A silvered pendok that needs restoration. I already restored the mendak as it fell apart so I made a new inner sleeve where all the parts slide over and hammered it carefully together again. I am not sure if the inlay is gold but it looks like it. Hope to learn more about this Keris through the forum. Thanks and best wishes, Martin. Attached Images

30th December 2023, 03:08 PM	#4
Pendita65 Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 99	Thanks Hello David and Detlef, Thank you for the information, I see there is more to learn for me. I will see if it stays in the collection. The other Keris has an interesting blade that is covered in a dammar varnish that I need to remove. Will post pictures soon. The gander is almost complete gone and the pendok was filled with old newspaper so that the Keris fitted well. The pendok has some serious dents damage. Must see if I keep it that way or if I can repair it. Best wishes, Martin

31st December 2023, 04:17 PM	#6
Pendita65 Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 99	Mr. Maisey, Thank you for your response to my posting. And I think it,s made before WW2.But I can’t prove this. There was dammar varnish also on the tombak and this I scraped of with my thumbnail. I will do that with the Keris blade as well. As a teacher in furniture restoration the woodwork ain’t a problem. I haven’t found out what kind of wood the gander is made off. It is a very light wood and to my feeling the sapwood part of wood but what species I don’t, have a clue. Can I ask you what you mean with a foot at a gambar ? I post some pics of the Javanese Keris. I think underneath the varnish is a nice pamor as you can see in the picture. Best wishes for 2024 as at your part it already is the new year. Martin Attached Images

28th December 2023, 05:38 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,121	Hi Martin. For me it is really difficult to give a good assessment of this keris based on the photographs you have provided. First off o would like to see the blade photographed flat, not approaching from the an angle as you have, so that i can see the actual proportion of the blade elements. Also an image of the entire blade in one photograph would be helpful. Try to photograph it in better, even light so that that you can get sharper, more detailed images. Overcast skies can provide a nice even lighting for this. I don't think the blade is particularly old given the way the features (naga and greneng) have been carved, so it is strange to see the hole worn through the blade (usually this would be caused by many generations to acid washing). So i am not certain if this blade was intentionally aged or not. Better photos might answer that question. Your hilt does appear to be old ivory and this type of hilt is from East Jawa/Madura and is called Donoriko. Yours does not seem to have been carved with a great deal of detail as some others and it has a good bit of damage. But again, better photos would be helpful.

30th December 2023, 12:25 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Hello Martin, I agree with David, better pictures would be very helpful. But I think that the blade is kamardikan and crudely executed. The handle is antique but not worked with great skill and very worn, compare it with other donoriko hilts (just use by the search function the keyword "donoriko"). Regards, Detlef

30th December 2023, 11:33 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,890	In respect of the dragon blade. It is not an old one, "old" being back into the 19th century --- this "old" idea can wander around more or less according to the feelings of the person who is providing the opinion, so "old" might be pre-1640 or so, or it might be 1978 or so. My feeling about this particular blade is that it could be 1920's through to mid-1970's, before 1980, but excluding +/- the period of Japanese occupation during WWII. The hilt is not a masterpiece, as already noted, but it is true to form and all keris & their dress do come in varying qualities, the difference between best & lesser items is usually expressed in $$$$. Regarding the Jogja keris. Varnish is easy to remove, depending on exactly what kind of "varnish" it is it might move with methylated spirits, or you might need some other solvent, but it will come off. The pendok should not be much of a job to straighten out, a piece of 1cm round steel bar clamed horizontal in a vice & inserted into the pendok will permit the dents to be straightened out, finger pressure is usually enough. A new gandar can be made in two halves & then fitted to the gambar (atasan), and a few spots of Araldite or similar adhesive along the joint will hold the two halves in place. If the gambar has a foot, button shellac might be the wisest adhesive to use for fixing gandar to gambar, I say "wisest" because a button shellac joint is easily detached and gives you the opportunity to correct a poor fit. All these items can be brought back to decent condition without much effort.