Keris Solo for identification

Bjorn · 4th July 2018, 10:27 AM

On the topic of ivory dress, I happened to come across the below ensemble in a book I was browsing through.
According to the caption it was a gift from Hamengkubuwono VIII to Queen Wilhelmina in 1923.

No doubt this piece was meant for display only, as there would have been absolutely no occasion for this keris to be worn in any setting.

A. G. Maisey · 4th July 2018, 12:53 PM

What we are looking at here Bjorn has not the smallest thing to do with the keris as an item of dress.

Javanese people, commoners as well as kings, were and are in the habit of gifting a keris to a person with whom they desire to form a strong bond. The gift of a keris forms that bond and encapsulates the binding power of the Naga Basuki (Vasuki).

I guess that Queen Wilhelmina might not have been aware of the implications from a Javanese point of view when she accepted the gift.

Jean · 4th July 2018, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjorn

On the topic of ivory dress, I happened to come across the below ensemble in a book I was browsing through.
According to the caption it was a gift from Hamengkubuwono VIII to Queen Wilhelmina in 1923.

No doubt this piece was meant for display only, as there would have been absolutely no occasion for this keris to be worn in any setting.

The pendok is reversed?

What a shame for a royal kris!

Marcokeris · 4th July 2018, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean

The pendok is reversed?

Yes

Bjorn · 5th July 2018, 08:32 PM

Alan, I very much doubt that any of the Dutch sovereigns who were gifted a keris had any real understanding of either the keris or Javanese culture.

Jean and Marco, the above seems to apply to the caretakers of the keris as well!

Bjorn · 17th July 2018, 08:53 PM

Hello all,

Would the below be considered to be a type of Tuban gonjo?

A. G. Maisey · 17th July 2018, 10:15 PM

"--- a type of ---"?

yes, very probably.

Bjorn · 18th July 2018, 07:50 AM

I actually only just realized I have a blade that may well have a type of Tuban gonjo, and I deliberately wrote "a type of" as there seem to be numerous sub-classifications, and I don't believe I'm aware of all of them.

Tuban-Pajajaran and Tuban-Mataram are the two I've seen bandied about.
I don't think my blade qualifies as either as the gonjo is straight and the blumbangan is not Mataram.

4th July 2018, 10:27 AM	#1
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	On the topic of ivory dress, I happened to come across the below ensemble in a book I was browsing through. According to the caption it was a gift from Hamengkubuwono VIII to Queen Wilhelmina in 1923. No doubt this piece was meant for display only, as there would have been absolutely no occasion for this keris to be worn in any setting. Attached Images

17th July 2018, 08:53 PM	#6
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	Hello all, Would the below be considered to be a type of Tuban gonjo? Attached Images

4th July 2018, 12:53 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	What we are looking at here Bjorn has not the smallest thing to do with the keris as an item of dress. Javanese people, commoners as well as kings, were and are in the habit of gifting a keris to a person with whom they desire to form a strong bond. The gift of a keris forms that bond and encapsulates the binding power of the Naga Basuki (Vasuki). I guess that Queen Wilhelmina might not have been aware of the implications from a Javanese point of view when she accepted the gift.

5th July 2018, 08:32 PM	#5
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	Alan, I very much doubt that any of the Dutch sovereigns who were gifted a keris had any real understanding of either the keris or Javanese culture. Jean and Marco, the above seems to apply to the caretakers of the keris as well!

17th July 2018, 10:15 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,991	"--- a type of ---"? yes, very probably.

18th July 2018, 07:50 AM	#8
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	I actually only just realized I have a blade that may well have a type of Tuban gonjo, and I deliberately wrote "a type of" as there seem to be numerous sub-classifications, and I don't believe I'm aware of all of them. Tuban-Pajajaran and Tuban-Mataram are the two I've seen bandied about. I don't think my blade qualifies as either as the gonjo is straight and the blumbangan is not Mataram.