A Javanese Wedhung

SidJ · Yesterday, 07:11 PM

Here's an antique Javanese wedhung. I've been chasing one for years. Cheers

Albert · Yesterday, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidJ

Here's an antique Javanese wedhung. I've been chasing one for years. Cheers

Looks very nice!

David · Yesterday, 09:08 PM

Hi Sid. Congratulations on finally acquiring a wedhung.
Better, larger photos would be helpful, but i suspect from what i can see that your is probably later 19th century to early 20th. Not a high ranking piece since it does not appear to carry pamor.

SidJ · Yesterday, 09:30 PM

Thanks Albert and David,

I think it had pamor at some time but is now not in stain. David do you have any reasoning to date it as you have as I have not found any guidance. I don't necessarily think that pamor in itself is a 100% guarantee of age or the fact of it being a high ranking piece though as that can easily be replicated in a modern setting. In fact I have seen a few of these pamored ones that look decidely recent.

A. G. Maisey · Today, 06:17 AM

The wedhung is a court knife that is required to be worn by some members of a kraton hierarchy.

In the case of the Surakarta kraton, a wedhung can only carry pamor if it is worn by a prince, people of lower rank are not permitted to wear a wedhung that has pamor.

I very much doubt that this wedhung has or ever had pamor.

Dating this wedhung, blade only, would be very difficult if not impossible. There are a number of reasons for this.

Pamor can be used as a guide in assisting to date any blade that carries pamor, but it cannot be done reliably from a photo.

Yesterday, 07:11 PM	#1
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 224	A Javanese Wedhung Here's an antique Javanese wedhung. I've been chasing one for years. Cheers Attached Images

Yesterday, 09:08 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,242	Hi Sid. Congratulations on finally acquiring a wedhung. Better, larger photos would be helpful, but i suspect from what i can see that your is probably later 19th century to early 20th. Not a high ranking piece since it does not appear to carry pamor.

Yesterday, 09:30 PM	#4
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 224	Thanks Albert and David, I think it had pamor at some time but is now not in stain. David do you have any reasoning to date it as you have as I have not found any guidance. I don't necessarily think that pamor in itself is a 100% guarantee of age or the fact of it being a high ranking piece though as that can easily be replicated in a modern setting. In fact I have seen a few of these pamored ones that look decidely recent.

Today, 06:17 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,068	The wedhung is a court knife that is required to be worn by some members of a kraton hierarchy. In the case of the Surakarta kraton, a wedhung can only carry pamor if it is worn by a prince, people of lower rank are not permitted to wear a wedhung that has pamor. I very much doubt that this wedhung has or ever had pamor. Dating this wedhung, blade only, would be very difficult if not impossible. There are a number of reasons for this. Pamor can be used as a guide in assisting to date any blade that carries pamor, but it cannot be done reliably from a photo.