20th Century Solonese Keris

[Marcokeris]

Beautiful

[David]

That's very nice work! I think it is good to see that new "dhapurs" are still developing. It shows that the art is not dead, but still growing and evolving. Enjoy your new keris and thanks for showing it.

[ganjawulung]

Yeah, David,

The keris art is still living here. Although Sukamdi this nowadays, can not do his works like in 1999. He got tremor in his hand, due to the seriousnes of concentration in keris making. So I am lucky enough to get "his last work" of this divine birds. And I still keep other creation of Sukamdi, with the unique dhapur too: "sepang luk". Sepang, or almost simitrical model of sor-soran, usually straight keris. But that time, Sukamdi had made the sepang in luks. Beautiful too. The material was from broken kerises from sedayu (black) iron.

In solo there is also another creative keris maker, less than 50 years of age named Subandi. He knows well the right pakem, because he once learnt from old empu like the late empu Yosopangarso (yogyakarta) and also the senior Sukadgo (Solo).

Other Solonese keris maker are: Yanto (very good also in kinatah or gold ornament for kerises) and Yantono (sometimes, make western blade with pamor in his own besalen or forgeron).

In Madura also there is a good development in keris making. Now Madura is not only the place for the "kodian" (cheap) keris maker, but also the creative young keris maker. One of the best young keris maker in Madura today is Zulhan, and his senior Hosdy. Very-very talented, good craftmenship, and... perfect finisher. And don't underestimate Madurese smith now. Madurese pamor, now is the best in Indonesia, in technique and variation of pamor motives.

In Muntilan -- about 10 kilometers from Yogyakarta -- also there is Heru, a very young and talented keris maker. In one keris Exhibition in Bentara Budaya Jakarta last year, Heru was number 3 winner of "keris competition" (the first time, of such event in years). And the winner is a metallurgy bachelor from Surabaya, Rudy Hartonodiningrat. Also very talented.

Actually, keris is still living in here, Dave...

[David]

Thanks for your post Ganja. While many of us are aware of the skill and beauty of modern day keris made in both Solo and Madura up until now they have remained a nameless group of smiths. It is good to see their names so that they can begin to get the recognition they so well deserve for their work.

[Marcokeris]

Thank Ganja for your very interesting answer.
I'm very happy when i see a well made new keris with a new syle (and in my opinion the two birds in your keris are full of elegance and poetry)
On the contrary when i see a new (modern style) model of handle i generally feel an annoyance even if the work is good. For example new style madura handle.

[David]

I know what you mean Marco, but i think that is possibly because many of these newer Madura hilt forms seem more aimed at a Western market than indigenous tastes. I have also seen some modern Madurese dress designs that i have liked very much.

[Boedhi Adhitya]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

In Muntilan -- about 10 kilometers from Yogyakarta -- also there is Heru, a very young and talented keris maker. In one keris Exhibition in Bentara Budaya Jakarta last year, Heru was number 3 winner of "keris competition" (the first time, of such event in years). And the winner is a metallurgy bachelor from Surabaya, Rudy Hartonodiningrat. Also very talented....

Excuse me, Ganjawulung, I know Heru personally, and I used to visit him, just to chat and seeing his works. Yes, he is a talented craftman, and before he make kerises, he was a keris dealer (and actually still a dealer, until now). But for the sake of accuracy, he didn't take the 3rd place in keris shaping competition. The 3rd place was taken by a talented young Madura guy, but I forget the name. The 1st, as you already mentioned, was taken by KRT Hartonodiningrat, and the 2nd by Mr Subandi. Heru's work on the competition was actually good, but the edge was too thin. As he was aging his work with acid to 'wipe-off' the file mark (like other competitors did, except Subandi), the acid ate-up the edge, making the blade proportion ruined. Very Bad Luck

[ganjawulung]

Boedi,

You are right. And the name of that young Madurese is Jamil. The only Madurese in that competition, although Madura actually has many talented keris makers.

Madura had a 'bad' reputation in the recent past, of making cheap kerises, or imitating old kerises. But now they're quite different. Talented keris maker like Zulhan he had learned the esthetic of making keris from Solonese keris maker like Sukamdi, or Subandi. Madurese had better pamor forger than Solonese. But usually they are lack of esthetic sense in finishing touch. Like Marco said, in making (ivory) new hilts too.

[Raden Usman Djogja]

beautiful, new and original innovation.
should be patented.

[A. G. Maisey]

Shown below are a number of wooden Madura handles.

They are randomly mixed and of only ordinary quality. Frankly, I find it very difficult to declare that the older ones are superior in any way to the ones from the current era.

Shown also is an old ivory pedang handle, and a brand new ivory pedang handle. I can see little or no difference in the quality of workmanship.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

beautiful, new and original innovation.
should be patented.

Raden,

Do you think Sukamdi needs to patent his new dhapur? Is there any precedent before?