20th Century Solonese Keris

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Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

That's good sunggingan work!!

I used to like the work Pak Legiman in Pajang did (near Makam Haji), but his quality fell off years ago, as his eyes started to go. Back 15 or 20 years ago, a lot of people used to reckon he was the best ever.The old kemalo is actually natural lacquer. New kemalo can be anything that looks right. In super cheap pendoks it is often automobile lacquer.

There are some nice older sungging pendok in Musium Radyopustoko.

You are right, Alan. Legiman was the best in sunggingan work at that time. Now hte is too old. And the best man in that work now is Laskam. Unfortunately, Laskam doesn't have time anymore to work on sunggingan. He is now too busy with his new business. Laskam, and also Mas Amien, once they had worked in the "sanggar" keris (kind of workshop) of Mr Haryono Guritno for a couple of years. But now, Amien also work independently -- still, in sunggingan work. Both of them, came from "wayang sunggingan". Laskam even a well-talented painter too.

About my "kemalo", actually that is not "real" kemalo, or traditional kemalo. That is just "automobile lacquer" kemalo.. But it is true the pendhok, formerly was "painted" with traditional green kemalo. Very badly damage, and I changed it with "red automobile lacquer kemalo"...

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