Old Java Keris ???

A. G. Maisey · 17th July 2023, 01:22 PM

Institution Gavin?

You mean like jail?

It has the right to life, just as you do.

As for skills, well, there are ways.

The point I have been trying to make is that this keris needs to brought to the position where it has the chance to survive for a few more hundred years. You only have a loan of it, and if you do not make it desirable while you have the opportunity to do so, it might not even see the end of this century.

This is what we do with old keris:- we try to extend their lives.

Museums lock them up in controlled conditions and kill them.

People do not.

SidJ · 18th July 2023, 12:52 AM

I used to work at the West Australian Museum. One of my colleagues used to say "Museums are the palaces of the Dead not the gardens of the living'. I've pondered that over the years.

A. G. Maisey · 18th July 2023, 03:54 AM

True Sid.

Very true.

Things have a limited life in a museum when they are on display, but when they go into storage, they slowly, slowly die.

To keep a keris alive it needs as a minimum continued contact with people.

Jean · 18th July 2023, 11:47 AM

A rather similar Javanese blade (shortened) before and after warangan for reference.

Gavin Nugent · 18th July 2023, 12:04 PM

You have skills! I like the screaming face at the tip...

Jean · 19th July 2023, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

You have skills! I like the screaming face at the tip...

Hum, the warangan treatment was performed by the best craftsman in Solo

18th July 2023, 11:47 AM	#4
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	A rather similar Javanese blade (shortened) before and after warangan for reference. Attached Images

17th July 2023, 01:22 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Institution Gavin? You mean like jail? It has the right to life, just as you do. As for skills, well, there are ways. The point I have been trying to make is that this keris needs to brought to the position where it has the chance to survive for a few more hundred years. You only have a loan of it, and if you do not make it desirable while you have the opportunity to do so, it might not even see the end of this century. This is what we do with old keris:- we try to extend their lives. Museums lock them up in controlled conditions and kill them. People do not.

18th July 2023, 12:52 AM	#2
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 233	I used to work at the West Australian Museum. One of my colleagues used to say "Museums are the palaces of the Dead not the gardens of the living'. I've pondered that over the years.

18th July 2023, 03:54 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	True Sid. Very true. Things have a limited life in a museum when they are on display, but when they go into storage, they slowly, slowly die. To keep a keris alive it needs as a minimum continued contact with people.

18th July 2023, 12:04 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	You have skills! I like the screaming face at the tip...