Need Help to Identify Sepuh (Old) / Kamardikan Java Keris

Gustav · 9th August 2017, 11:13 PM

Alan, I bought that Keris about 3 years ago in Netherlands, no information came with it.

On Keris made by Empu Paku Rodji there is a small stupa-like carving at the end of Pesi, and, as I understand, that carving is tradition of Magetan. I don't know, if it was done on ALL kerisses, and my Keris is nothing somebody would have been proud to have made it. It's obviously unfinished, and that Greneng (and other Ricikan) does mean it wasn't made for selling it to another "Empu" to do the Garapan. Perhaps some deviation from a standard (speak mistake) was just to big.

Also, from the example I have seen, Tikel Alis on a Magetan Keris should generally be narrower.

Here is what Jasper/Mas Pirngadie wrote about Magetan in/shortly before 1930. It's not much, Empu Ki Guno and Mustofo are mentioned, Ki Guno as somebody, who did good Pamor forging, and subsequent downfall of Pamor forging (small quantity of lesser quality Pamor material used, irregular Pamor layers):

Quote:

"In Magetan stond de sedert lang overleden empoe Kjai Goeno bekend als iemand, die krissen met veel pamor strepen wist te smeden, terwijl in diezelfde afdeeling in de dessa Semen zekere Moestopo woonde, die de pamor smeedkunst beoefende en het z.g pamor (vermoedelijk de weinig nikkelhoudende ijzersoorten) in een Chineesche toko kocht voor f 2.50 per katie. Zoodanig was de pamorsmeedkunst in Magetan verbasterd, dat de pamormotieven of uit slechts heel weinig strepen bestonden (door het gebruik van weinig nikkelhoudend ijzer in zeer kleine hoeveelheid), of toevallig ontstaan waren zonder methodische rangschikking van de grondstof."

A. G. Maisey · 10th August 2017, 12:58 AM

Yeah Gustav, J&P obviously didn't think too much of the Magetan pamor.

I think that little stupa on the end of the pesi was mentioned in a magazine a few years back, wasn't it?

As I said, I can only go on what I've been told about tangguh Mageti, and those who told me, never mentioned this stupa feature. It might be like a lot of features on keris:- the good ones get something identifiable with the maker, the less than good ones do not get something that can positively ID the maker. This has always happened, and is still a standard practice with present day Solo makers.

In any case, whether this is Magetan or not, and in light of what you have just said, maybe its not, it is definitely from the same school as Bejo's keris, and it is definitely stylistically Jawa Tengah.

So what other options are there?

Not many. To my mind, the outstanding distinctive features are that gonjo fixing method + the low quality of workmanship. I reckon if we can ID where that gonjo fix was used as original, we might come close to giving a place or school of origin.

10th August 2017, 12:58 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,043	Yeah Gustav, J&P obviously didn't think too much of the Magetan pamor. I think that little stupa on the end of the pesi was mentioned in a magazine a few years back, wasn't it? As I said, I can only go on what I've been told about tangguh Mageti, and those who told me, never mentioned this stupa feature. It might be like a lot of features on keris:- the good ones get something identifiable with the maker, the less than good ones do not get something that can positively ID the maker. This has always happened, and is still a standard practice with present day Solo makers. In any case, whether this is Magetan or not, and in light of what you have just said, maybe its not, it is definitely from the same school as Bejo's keris, and it is definitely stylistically Jawa Tengah. So what other options are there? Not many. To my mind, the outstanding distinctive features are that gonjo fixing method + the low quality of workmanship. I reckon if we can ID where that gonjo fix was used as original, we might come close to giving a place or school of origin.