Sold for over €85k

A. G. Maisey · 13th December 2024, 04:37 AM

I have been aware of this artefact from the time it appeared in the catalogue for the auction, my attention was drawn to it by several people, along with requests for comment.

Frankly, I have been, & still am, a bit reluctant to comment on the blade or the hilt, we can forget about the scabbard because that is clearly not out of SE Asia, although it might have begun its life there. Similarly, the content of the description is something I am not comfortable with addressing.

The comments that I think might be able to be made cannot reasonably be made from photographs, but for those people who truly do know keris, I feel that really, no comments of mine are particularly necessary.

Somebody has paid a lot of money for this item, the owner has received somewhat less, & I'm sure that the auction house is smiling. I do think it is best that I keep quiet.

But I will say one thing, the 6 figure price tag is not such an unusual sum of money for an old keris in excellent condition & with a high intrinsic value, very good keris do change hands for very high prices.

13th December 2024, 04:37 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	I have been aware of this artefact from the time it appeared in the catalogue for the auction, my attention was drawn to it by several people, along with requests for comment. Frankly, I have been, & still am, a bit reluctant to comment on the blade or the hilt, we can forget about the scabbard because that is clearly not out of SE Asia, although it might have begun its life there. Similarly, the content of the description is something I am not comfortable with addressing. The comments that I think might be able to be made cannot reasonably be made from photographs, but for those people who truly do know keris, I feel that really, no comments of mine are particularly necessary. Somebody has paid a lot of money for this item, the owner has received somewhat less, & I'm sure that the auction house is smiling. I do think it is best that I keep quiet. But I will say one thing, the 6 figure price tag is not such an unusual sum of money for an old keris in excellent condition & with a high intrinsic value, very good keris do change hands for very high prices.