hello everyone

napoleon · 20th June 2011, 02:33 PM

hello,could anyone recomend the best reference for the study of keris,in english if possible ,i have quite a few i saved over time,regards napoleon

Rick · 20th June 2011, 04:20 PM

Hi Napoleon, welcome .

You could start with :

The World of the Javanese Keris
by Garrett and Bronwen Solyum

Ensiklopedi Keris
by Bambang Harsrinuksmo (not in english but lots of pictures)

For insight:

Visible and Invisible Realms
By Margeret Weiner

Others will suggest more I'm sure .

Jussi M. · 20th June 2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Others will suggest more I'm sure .

Yes.

http://kerisattosanaji.com/kerisinformation.html + see the classics on this forum.

J.

David · 20th June 2011, 04:58 PM

I will second Rick's suggestions, but must point out that IMO there really is no "best" reference book on the subject of keris. Most of them have their failings, many have misinformation passed along from previous incorrect sources and few are very comprehensive.
I have no complaints about the info in the Solyum book, but it is fairly introductory and is, of course, specific to the Javanese keris. A must have in any keris library though.
Weiner's Visible and Invisible Realms is not specifically about keris, but it is invaluable to the understanding of keris within the culture.
I would also suggest the lastest upgraded re-issue of Groneman's The Javanese Kris as well as Theo Alkema's Iron Ancestors which aims it's study at keris sajen and other talismanic tojan aji.

DAHenkel · 20th June 2011, 10:42 PM

For a good general introduction to the keris, that it not (particularly) Java centric, in Indonesian (unless of course you can manage that), is not a specialist reference tome and not out of print...

...Try David Van Duuren's The Kris: An Earthly Approach to a Cosmic Symbol.

A. G. Maisey · 20th June 2011, 11:42 PM

Naploeon, you say :-

"--- study of the keris---"

this is an enormous field that needs several lifetimes to achieve anything like a comprehensive base of knowledge --- thus most of us settle for something a little less than comprehensive.

All the recommendations of the people who have already responded to you, I agree with, however, I would suggest that you might like to consider what it is that you find most interesting about the keris at this point in time, and then perhaps we could tailor our recommendations to help satisfy your quest for knowledge.

20th June 2011, 02:33 PM	#1
napoleon Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 88	hello everyone hello,could anyone recomend the best reference for the study of keris,in english if possible ,i have quite a few i saved over time,regards napoleon

20th June 2011, 04:58 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	I will second Rick's suggestions, but must point out that IMO there really is no "best" reference book on the subject of keris. Most of them have their failings, many have misinformation passed along from previous incorrect sources and few are very comprehensive. I have no complaints about the info in the Solyum book, but it is fairly introductory and is, of course, specific to the Javanese keris. A must have in any keris library though. Weiner's Visible and Invisible Realms is not specifically about keris, but it is invaluable to the understanding of keris within the culture. I would also suggest the lastest upgraded re-issue of Groneman's The Javanese Kris as well as Theo Alkema's Iron Ancestors which aims it's study at keris sajen and other talismanic tojan aji. Last edited by David; 21st June 2011 at 03:12 AM.

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20th June 2011, 04:20 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Hi Napoleon, welcome . You could start with : The World of the Javanese Keris by Garrett and Bronwen Solyum Ensiklopedi Keris by Bambang Harsrinuksmo (not in english but lots of pictures) For insight: Visible and Invisible Realms By Margeret Weiner Others will suggest more I'm sure .

20th June 2011, 10:42 PM	#5
DAHenkel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 125	For a good general introduction to the keris, that it not (particularly) Java centric, in Indonesian (unless of course you can manage that), is not a specialist reference tome and not out of print... ...Try David Van Duuren's The Kris: An Earthly Approach to a Cosmic Symbol.

20th June 2011, 11:42 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Naploeon, you say :- "--- study of the keris---" this is an enormous field that needs several lifetimes to achieve anything like a comprehensive base of knowledge --- thus most of us settle for something a little less than comprehensive. All the recommendations of the people who have already responded to you, I agree with, however, I would suggest that you might like to consider what it is that you find most interesting about the keris at this point in time, and then perhaps we could tailor our recommendations to help satisfy your quest for knowledge.