Something worth a passing glance

[Green]

Totally understand what you are saying about how different outside cultures influence the indigenous art. But Java and Indonesia and the nusantara as a whole with the exception of Bali has been Muslim for many hundred years and Keris art has stabilised to a more Islamic way of looking at things although not entirely eschewing the older cultures particularly the use of naga motifs as naga has been a part of indigenous myth since the very beginning as well. However even naga motifs have the 'local look' instead of more chinese look as we(I) see in this particular example.

It is may be just me but I feel that this example has too Chinese look and does not really represent javanese or nusantara keris art.

[A. G. Maisey]

If you say so Green, but your perspective is perhaps not the perspective of the Javanese people:- they own their culture, & they decide what is a part of that culture.

As for Islam & Jawa, well, that has been a contentious matter for a very long time.

Keris art & the Islamic World view?

Yes, some influence, but in only some respects and in a very limited way.

In Jawa, and also in Bali, all things are understood in a Javanese way & in a Balinese way, and particularly where Islam is concerned, that way might not be in accord with the way in which things are understood in other parts of the Islamic world.

This does not just involve keris art, it involves the entire society of Jawa and of Bali. To understand the way in which these peoples see & understand the world around them, we need to at least try to adopt at least a similar way of seeing that world.

In fact, in Jawa, there is no "stabilisation" of keris art & most definitely not any general "stabilisation" that tends to an Islamic set of values.

If you do not like the motif used in this pendok, that opinion can be easily accepted if it offends your personal sense of values, but in Jawa & in Solo a great many people would have different opinions.

I'd guess that you would probably find the Batik motifs of Cirebon & Pekalongan unacceptable also.

[Green]

Fair statement Alan. I am a malay and certainly I have quite a different cultural background compared with the Javanese although we have many similarities as well. Malay and Javanese are quite different people in many ways although many would consider Javanese and Malay are essentially the same group of people while some others of more nationalistic bent vehemently claim that we are different races LOL.

But what I observe and historical events have amply showed that
Javanese are quite anti Chinese even to this day and it would be interesting if any Javanese in this group would comment what they think about the motif of this pendok.

[A. G. Maisey]

Whilst it is true that there are some genetic similarities between Malay & Javanese peoples, there are very great differences between Malay society as it exists in today's Malaysia, & Javanese society as it exists in today's Jawa.

It is also true that from the 19th century, when the Chinese were used by the Dutch as their managers, overseers, supervisors & hit men, the Javanese have, in general, harboured an intense dislike for the Chinese people living in Jawa, if we look at the historical contributions of the Chinese to Javanese & Balinese society & culture we find that much of what we now tend to regard as uniquely Javanese is in fact of Chinese origin.

Historically the Chinese have played an exceptionally important role in the development of Javanese art & culture. It is even possible that without the contribution of Chinese Muslims, Jawa might not be regarded as an Islamic state today.

In respect of the pendok, of course this motif is influenced by Chinese style, nobody can deny that, however, that Chinese style is now as much a part of Javanese art & culture as are the many other Chinese inspired motifs that are a part of Javanese art.

This discussion is in my opinion going nowhere, I made this photo of an exceptional piece of Javanese keris art available for public view to permit others to see what the best can look like, I did not make it available to open a discussion on whether Chinese influence can be found in Javanese art. This is a given, & it cannot be denied.

Similarly it cannot be denied that this Chinese influence can be seen in this piece of Javanese art work.

None the less, in the lexicon of Javanese art, Chinese inspired motifs do have a place and are legitimately identified as Javanese art at the present time.

I do acknowledge that not everybody might particularly like this motif, but I did not make it available to generate a poll on likes & dislikes, I made it available so that others may be able to see what superior craftsmanship looks like, and that is completely independent of personal likes & dislikes, it is something that must be an objective judgement.

[JustYS]

This high end templek pendok always amazed me, thank you for showing Alan.

Am I correct to guess the materials are silver and gold plated?

Also does the pendok motifs have a hierarchical rank like the pendok color? In a sense are there some motifs attributed to certain ranks?

Thank you.

[Gustav]

Superior craftmanship?

[A. G. Maisey]

Gustav, everything is relative:- we do not compare apples & oranges, there is no universal norm.