ID of a keris

[Anthony G.]

A friend said that this is a Tuban old keris but another collector said that this is a Mataram keris. The reason was the edge line of blumbangan and gandik is sharper than Tuban keris which is more rounded.

What is your view?

Thank you.

[A. G. Maisey]

There are a number of indicators or "tells" that we use to classify a keris according to the Solonese tangguh system, that number is around ten or a dozen indicators. A single indicator is insufficient to provide a defensible classification.

Photographs are not particularly reliable in providing the information we need to to give a defensible classification. For example, I cannot tell with certainty the shape of the blumbangan of this keris. Is it square, or does it have a different shape?

Similarly, I cannot clearly discern the shape of the blade cross section.

You have not provided a photograph of the top of the gonjo, and this is required in most instances for us to provide a defensible opinion.

Lastly, much of the information we need to classify a keris can only be obtained if the keris is held in the hand. From photographs we can sometimes take an educated guess, but those photos need to be the right ones.

So Anthony, could you please:-

1) provide a photo that looks straight down onto the top of the gonjo

2) advise us of the shape of the blumbangan

3) describe as best you can the shape of the blade cross section, taken about the mid-point of the blade.

With that info there might be a few people who could provide an opinion that they could defend.

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

There are a number of indicators or "tells" that we use to classify a keris according to the Solonese tangguh system, that number is around ten or a dozen indicators. A single indicator is insufficient to provide a defensible classification.

Photographs are not particularly reliable in providing the information we need to to give a defensible classification. For example, I cannot tell with certainty the shape of the blumbangan of this keris. Is it square, or does it have a different shape?

Similarly, I cannot clearly discern the shape of the blade cross section.

You have not provided a photograph of the top of the gonjo, and this is required in most instances for us to provide a defensible opinion.

Lastly, much of the information we need to classify a keris can only be obtained if the keris is held in the hand. From photographs we can sometimes take an educated guess, but those photos need to be the right ones.

So Anthony, could you please:-

1) provide a photo that looks straight down onto the top of the gonjo

2) advise us of the shape of the blumbangan

3) describe as best you can the shape of the blade cross section, taken about the mid-point of the blade.

With that info there might be a few people who could provide an opinion that they could defend.

Noted friend. I will do so once it arrives in Singapore. Thank you as always for the gentle reminder and teaching.