Appreciation

drdavid · 13th July 2010, 09:08 AM

Without inspiration and dreams where would we be? Those and a lot of persistance make for a full life.

BluErf · 13th July 2010, 02:05 PM

We all justify our purchases/collections.

My dad thinks my kerises are worth little and I have thrown all my money down the drain... But they are worth the world to me, and I would spend a huge part of my disposable income on them.

Gustav · 13th July 2010, 09:22 PM

Me too.

Rick · 13th July 2010, 10:39 PM

Sorry ?

Just bought a newer car .
Having the kitchen remodeled .
Added a Garden Shed, and maybe air conditioning .

What is this substance you refer to as "disposable income" ?

Paul Duffy · 14th July 2010, 05:57 AM

Alan,
What a wonderful fire-ball to throw into the Keris-Warung- Kopi hearth,the puzzlying nature of human pleasure.I've not read the book,but in a review I see that the author argues that pleasure is not primarily a response to certain perceptual and sensory experiences,but instead has a significant cognitive component,what we think about has a huge impact on how much pleasure we derive from it.
I'm a collector of keris,my appreciation was,and still is the complexity of a keris.I have,over time come to understand that a keris comprises many components,handle and fittings,sheath,and blade.I certainly gain more knowledge about the keris,and the community in which they were and still are made and used by reading,looking at as many keris as I can,and by visiting this site.
I know that part of my pleasure is being able to learn more,I suppose why else would I be here on the web.
But my pleasure is not in the dollar value,although it is a factor.Business and pleasure can co-exist
I enjoy showing keris to friends,collectors and non-collectors who are interested.
I sometimes wonder if the pleasure is just the ability to escape from the discipline of every-day working life.But then why not just listen to Bill Frissell playing jazz guitar,or almost any Beethoven music.
I don't know why I don't have the same fascination for Japanese,or Indian edged weapons,,why do I get more pleasure from keris,especially those from
Java.
I think it is a very subjective issue,and I agree that many friends and family don't share my pleasure.Though some do,it's hard not to resist the odour of Indonesia.Once a friend picks up a keris,looks at the blade,wonders about the pamour,or sniffs scented wood then they have been affected by the fire ball.

BluErf · 14th July 2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Sorry ?

Just bought a newer car .
Having the kitchen remodeled .
Added a Garden Shed, and maybe air conditioning .

What is this substance you refer to as "disposable income" ?

Sorry, let me call it by a better name - "self-actualization funds"

I aspire towards building the best keris collection in Singapore!!

Now you'd have motivation to get a smaller car, live with the good ol' kitchen and do without the shed that you never actually needed...

Rick · 14th July 2010, 05:02 PM

Words escape me right now !!

Are you a married Guy Kai Wee ?

Yes, the kerisses take me away from the mundane plastic world that we endure daily .
An investment in sanity if you will .

RSWORD · 14th July 2010, 05:43 PM

A great and complicated question. I think my pleasure in collecting involves a number of aspects.

The first is the thrill of the hunt. I think there is a little bit of treasure hunter in all of us. Rummaging through an old garage sale and stumbling onto a nice antique weapon, albeit a rarer occurance these days, is quite enjoyable.

The second is having a tangible link to the past. I think we collectors have vivid imaginations and I like to imagine the journey a 300 year old sword has had from point of origin to my hands today. I have learned more about world history through the study of swords than I ever did in the classroom. But letting my imagination run rampant is most enjoyable.

The third is an appreciation of the skill and artistry exhibited in these pieces. These aesthetics bring joy to the artistic side of my brain. When you look closely there are always so many minute points of detail to enjoy. From time to time, I find something new to enjoy in a piece I have had for years and this is enjoyable. The old saying, "They don't make them like they used to" is so true.

I have noticed that the more I learn about my sword collection the more I appreciate what I have. It seems the more I appreciate what I have, the more I want to learn. It is a never ending loop.

BluErf · 16th July 2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Words escape me right now !!

Are you a married Guy Kai Wee ?

Yes, the kerisses take me away from the mundane plastic world that we endure daily .
An investment in sanity if you will .

Yes, I'm married

I convinced my wife that it was gd investment.

13th July 2010, 09:08 AM	#1
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 372	Without inspiration and dreams where would we be? Those and a lot of persistance make for a full life. Attached Images

14th July 2010, 05:57 AM	#5
Paul Duffy Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 31	Appreciation Alan, What a wonderful fire-ball to throw into the Keris-Warung- Kopi hearth,the puzzlying nature of human pleasure.I've not read the book,but in a review I see that the author argues that pleasure is not primarily a response to certain perceptual and sensory experiences,but instead has a significant cognitive component,what we think about has a huge impact on how much pleasure we derive from it. I'm a collector of keris,my appreciation was,and still is the complexity of a keris.I have,over time come to understand that a keris comprises many components,handle and fittings,sheath,and blade.I certainly gain more knowledge about the keris,and the community in which they were and still are made and used by reading,looking at as many keris as I can,and by visiting this site. I know that part of my pleasure is being able to learn more,I suppose why else would I be here on the web. But my pleasure is not in the dollar value,although it is a factor.Business and pleasure can co-exist I enjoy showing keris to friends,collectors and non-collectors who are interested. I sometimes wonder if the pleasure is just the ability to escape from the discipline of every-day working life.But then why not just listen to Bill Frissell playing jazz guitar,or almost any Beethoven music. I don't know why I don't have the same fascination for Japanese,or Indian edged weapons,,why do I get more pleasure from keris,especially those from Java. I think it is a very subjective issue,and I agree that many friends and family don't share my pleasure.Though some do,it's hard not to resist the odour of Indonesia.Once a friend picks up a keris,looks at the blade,wonders about the pamour,or sniffs scented wood then they have been affected by the fire ball.

13th July 2010, 02:05 PM	#2
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	We all justify our purchases/collections. My dad thinks my kerises are worth little and I have thrown all my money down the drain... But they are worth the world to me, and I would spend a huge part of my disposable income on them.

13th July 2010, 09:22 PM	#3
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,295	Me too.

13th July 2010, 10:39 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Sorry ? Just bought a newer car . Having the kitchen remodeled . Added a Garden Shed, and maybe air conditioning . What is this substance you refer to as "disposable income" ?

14th July 2010, 05:02 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	Words escape me right now !! Are you a married Guy Kai Wee ? Yes, the kerisses take me away from the mundane plastic world that we endure daily . An investment in sanity if you will .

14th July 2010, 05:43 PM	#8
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	A great and complicated question. I think my pleasure in collecting involves a number of aspects. The first is the thrill of the hunt. I think there is a little bit of treasure hunter in all of us. Rummaging through an old garage sale and stumbling onto a nice antique weapon, albeit a rarer occurance these days, is quite enjoyable. The second is having a tangible link to the past. I think we collectors have vivid imaginations and I like to imagine the journey a 300 year old sword has had from point of origin to my hands today. I have learned more about world history through the study of swords than I ever did in the classroom. But letting my imagination run rampant is most enjoyable. The third is an appreciation of the skill and artistry exhibited in these pieces. These aesthetics bring joy to the artistic side of my brain. When you look closely there are always so many minute points of detail to enjoy. From time to time, I find something new to enjoy in a piece I have had for years and this is enjoyable. The old saying, "They don't make them like they used to" is so true. I have noticed that the more I learn about my sword collection the more I appreciate what I have. It seems the more I appreciate what I have, the more I want to learn. It is a never ending loop.