Solo Keris - Comments and Info welcome.

Paul de Souza · 13th May 2018, 03:40 AM

Hi all.

I have a keris from Solo which to me has an unusual dapur and Grenang. It was given as a token of appreciation, in the 70s to 80s, to a benefactor of a village in Solo for building a mosque or prayer room for that village. Notice the many cecekan on the hilt. The blade has no pamor that I can see. Any comments welcome.

A. G. Maisey · 13th May 2018, 04:05 AM

The blade is not a Surakarta blade. I hesitate to give it a classification because my feeling is that it is a rather poor quality blade that has been altered, what we call a "robahan". I could only confirm this feeling if I had the blade in my hands.

The wrongko is a nice quality ladrang, not special, but nicely carved and with correct grain orientation.

The pendok appears to be silver and was probably made by Bp. Prawirodihardjo (Alm.) of Jogjakarta. If this is silver we are looking at a very expensive pendok. At the present time, and for some time past, a pendok of this style and quality has been impossible to obtain.

The hilt is a standard, but scarce Solonese form.

The mendak appears to be silver set with yakut (rose cut rock crystal).

Taken in its totality, this is a very, very nice formal dress keris.

Paul de Souza · 13th May 2018, 04:35 AM

Thank you Alan. The pondok is silver and needs a good polish. I like the way the lok flow at the upper part of the blade. Has a grace to it.

A. G. Maisey · 13th May 2018, 05:19 AM

Paul, forgive me, but the word is 'pendok'.

In Javanese a pondok (or pondhok) is a small, roughly built hut.

I would not over polish that silver, leave the black oxidation in the hollows.

Paul de Souza · 13th May 2018, 05:34 AM

Yup. Same in Malay. Pondok is a small hut. Thumps moving independent of mind. Yes...keep as much of the patina as possible. Thanks.

Paul de Souza · 13th May 2018, 12:41 PM

After a little rub with a polish cloth.

13th May 2018, 03:40 AM	#1
Paul de Souza Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 65	Solo Keris - Comments and Info welcome. Hi all. I have a keris from Solo which to me has an unusual dapur and Grenang. It was given as a token of appreciation, in the 70s to 80s, to a benefactor of a village in Solo for building a mosque or prayer room for that village. Notice the many cecekan on the hilt. The blade has no pamor that I can see. Any comments welcome. Attached Images

13th May 2018, 12:41 PM	#6
Paul de Souza Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 65	After a little rub with a polish cloth. Attached Images

13th May 2018, 04:05 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	The blade is not a Surakarta blade. I hesitate to give it a classification because my feeling is that it is a rather poor quality blade that has been altered, what we call a "robahan". I could only confirm this feeling if I had the blade in my hands. The wrongko is a nice quality ladrang, not special, but nicely carved and with correct grain orientation. The pendok appears to be silver and was probably made by Bp. Prawirodihardjo (Alm.) of Jogjakarta. If this is silver we are looking at a very expensive pendok. At the present time, and for some time past, a pendok of this style and quality has been impossible to obtain. The hilt is a standard, but scarce Solonese form. The mendak appears to be silver set with yakut (rose cut rock crystal). Taken in its totality, this is a very, very nice formal dress keris.

13th May 2018, 04:35 AM	#3
Paul de Souza Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 65	Thank you Alan. The pondok is silver and needs a good polish. I like the way the lok flow at the upper part of the blade. Has a grace to it.

13th May 2018, 05:19 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	Paul, forgive me, but the word is 'pendok'. In Javanese a pondok (or pondhok) is a small, roughly built hut. I would not over polish that silver, leave the black oxidation in the hollows.

13th May 2018, 05:34 AM	#5
Paul de Souza Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 65	Yup. Same in Malay. Pondok is a small hut. Thumps moving independent of mind. Yes...keep as much of the patina as possible. Thanks.