variation of tok chu

A. G. Maisey · 9th February 2012, 09:07 PM

This is an immediate reaction to the top keris. I'm not posting it as fuel for any sort of ongoing discussion on the forms and merits of various types of keris.

To my eye, this top keris looks very much like somebody had seen an early East Javanese --- read "Majapahit" --- keris only once and only briefly, and then tried to reproduce it --- or maybe had it described to him.

This keris has the features of a Mojo keris, but as they would be described, not as they are executed in the original.

I find this type of thing quite interesting, just as I find the similarity of the Panataran keris to Bugis keris quite interesting. It helps to track dispersion.

Jean · 12th February 2012, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

To my eye, this top keris looks very much like somebody had seen an early East Javanese --- read "Majapahit" --- keris only once and only briefly, and then tried to reproduce it --- or maybe had it described to him.

This keris has the features of a Mojo keris, but as they would be described, not as they are executed in the original.

Hello Alan,
I have some difficulties to see a similarity between this kris and a Majapahit kris as described in reference books or (rarely) shown on pictures.
Unless this subject was already raised in an earlier post, can you show us some pictures of what you consider as representative Mojo krisses or description of their specific features?
Thanks and regards

A. G. Maisey · 12th February 2012, 08:34 PM

Jean, the keris in this thread is not similar to Majapahit.

I did not say it was.

What I said was this:-

"To my eye, this top keris looks very much like somebody had seen an early East Javanese --- read "Majapahit" --- keris only once and only briefly, and then tried to reproduce it --- or maybe had it described to him.

This keris has the features of a Mojo keris, but as they would be described, not as they are executed in the original."

Imagine:- you've never seen a Mojo blade, but you get a quick look at one, or somebody who has seen one, but doesn't know a hell of a lot about keris has seen one, and then they describe it to you:-

longish, slim, elegant, waved gonjo, tall, narrow, upright blumbangan, tight greneng, two grooves starting at the blade base, kruwingan, another little greneng under the kembang kacang

then you go away and try to make it.

What you finish up with is this.

Nothing like a Mojo blade, but the description fits.

That's what I find interesting.

Jean · 13th February 2012, 08:50 AM

Hello Alan,
Thank you for the clarification. My point was that this blade is not particularly slim nor tall nor narrow, hence my question....

Best regards

9th February 2012, 09:07 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	This is an immediate reaction to the top keris. I'm not posting it as fuel for any sort of ongoing discussion on the forms and merits of various types of keris. To my eye, this top keris looks very much like somebody had seen an early East Javanese --- read "Majapahit" --- keris only once and only briefly, and then tried to reproduce it --- or maybe had it described to him. This keris has the features of a Mojo keris, but as they would be described, not as they are executed in the original. I find this type of thing quite interesting, just as I find the similarity of the Panataran keris to Bugis keris quite interesting. It helps to track dispersion. Last edited by A. G. Maisey; 10th February 2012 at 11:11 AM. Reason: missing punctuation

12th February 2012, 08:34 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	Jean, the keris in this thread is not similar to Majapahit. I did not say it was. What I said was this:- "To my eye, this top keris looks very much like somebody had seen an early East Javanese --- read "Majapahit" --- keris only once and only briefly, and then tried to reproduce it --- or maybe had it described to him. This keris has the features of a Mojo keris, but as they would be described, not as they are executed in the original." Imagine:- you've never seen a Mojo blade, but you get a quick look at one, or somebody who has seen one, but doesn't know a hell of a lot about keris has seen one, and then they describe it to you:- longish, slim, elegant, waved gonjo, tall, narrow, upright blumbangan, tight greneng, two grooves starting at the blade base, kruwingan, another little greneng under the kembang kacang then you go away and try to make it. What you finish up with is this. Nothing like a Mojo blade, but the description fits. That's what I find interesting.

13th February 2012, 08:50 AM	#4
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Hello Alan, Thank you for the clarification. My point was that this blade is not particularly slim nor tall nor narrow, hence my question.... Best regards