Keris Identification please

[ASPaulding]

I have spent the last few months trying to study the keris. I feel that I have made some decent progress but this one has stumped me. It looks very old to me. The mendak looks aged as well. The ganja may have been gold plated at one point. I know there is ways to make it look older then it is. The main thing is the pamor has got me stumped. There is a character in the design. I didnt even notice till I started taking pictures. I have not been able to find another example like it. It reminds me of Bambang Sumantri. I am sure there is another design on the other side but I can not make it out. Is this an artificially aged piece or just a old keris that is a victim of a few to many citrus baths? Please any assistance with age and region would be appreciated. Thanks

[A. G. Maisey]

The wayang figure that we can see has been put onto the blade by what we call the "batik" process. Batik cloth is dyed by covering with wax those parts of the cloth that we do not want the dye to touch. This figure has been created in the same way, it was drawn onto the blade with wax, then the blade was soaked in acid which left the figure in relief.

Regrettably whoever did this was a bit of a novice, or maybe just plain lazy or stupid or forgetful, and the entire blade was soaked in acid for far too long. This has resulted in what we can see, which is a blade that has been damaged so badly that it is probably beyond resurrection.

What I can see of the pamor motif looks like a random pattern, wos wutah. It is an old blade, probably Tuban-Pajajaran. To my eye, the gonjo has never had any kinatah work or plating.

The wrongko is Madurese ladrangan, it needs a pendok, the hilt is Javanese, it tends towards Jogja rather than Solo, but I cannot get a clear impression from the photos, the mendak is damaged and missing its lower rings.

I'm sorry I was not able to be a bit more upbeat, the clown who ruined this keris should have had his own hands put into the acid that destroyed the blade.

The heavy etch process to create images in blades was very popular in late colonial times & for a very brief period after WWII.

[ASPaulding]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

The wayang figure that we can see has been put onto the blade by what we call the "batik" process.

I'm sorry I was not able to be a bit more upbeat, the clown who ruined this keris should have had his own hands put into the acid that destroyed the blade.

It's OK. At least I have learned something new. I have never heard of batik process. I thought maybe something has happened to the blade to make it looks like this. Thank you for the information.

[A. G. Maisey]

Batik is a process for dying cloth, the keris community in Jawa has borrowed it, more or less sarcastically, to apply to these acid etched patterns on blades.

This explanation of the process for making Batik Tulis is as good as any, & understanding how it works with cloth helps in understanding how the pattern is produced in metal.

https://australian.museum/learn/cult...batik-process/

[jagabuwana]

Hello Alan, is something like this typically done in order to make the keris more appealing for resale?

[ASPaulding]

Originally Posted by jagabuwana

Hello Alan, is something like this typically done in order to make the keris more appealing for resale?

I still havn't came across another example that has something like this done to the blade. I have seen many examples of art done on fabric by the batik process. I assume it is to raise the value. I wonder if it really stands out if warangan is applied? Hopefully somebody will chime in.

[ASPaulding]

I few more photos.