A Question About Gonjos

Rick · 6th October 2006, 04:34 PM

Often I see a feature on some keris which has puzzled me for some time now .

Why are certain gonjos lifted away from the wilah at the tail or greneng end ?
This feature must have some meaning or be of a certain style ; can anyone help with the how and why of this ?

Henk · 6th October 2006, 07:42 PM

Just a guess Rick, but could such a ganja be a replacement?
Pamor doesn't flow over from the blade to the ganja. Next to that the ganja doesn't fit properly on the blade like it is one matching piece.
I never realized it in that way, but mostly when the ganja fits properly on the blade the pamor also is one with the blade. The ganja is made from the same piece of forged metal and therefore the pamor should match the blade.

Interesting question, would like to hear the opinion of our experts.

Rick · 6th October 2006, 08:07 PM

Hi Henk ,
That's something to consider ; but also when you look at the ricikan (correct term?) of both kerises they are similar even though one is Javanese or Maduran and the other seems Sumatran (cross pollination?).

About the lack of pamor on the Jawa piece; it is a very old blade and if I recall correctly from a past discussion of this one possibly from the Sultan Agung period; also again if I recall correctly there was some mention of a prohibition during that time of pamored gonjos or of openly displaying the pamor of one's keris .

Could this be a feature of dapur; or does dapur not cover the area of the gonjo ?

David · 6th October 2006, 08:14 PM

Hi Rick. I believe dapur does cover the area of the gonjo as well, but perhaps others have a different take on that. On the issue of the gonjo having the same pamor as the blade, i don't think this is necessarily the case. There was, if i remember correctly, in certain areas, even a prohibition on pamor on the gonjo of non-court keris.
As to the original question at hand, could this not be just the effects of age and acid washing. That has always been my assumption. I have never seen a newly made keris with this "feature". I don't think it is intentional and i don't think it is necessarily a sign of a replacement gonjo either.

David · 6th October 2006, 08:16 PM

BTW, i love the swastika patern on that Javanese hilt.

Rick · 6th October 2006, 08:22 PM

Hi David , I believe it's a Maduran ukiran; sorry I didnt show it in its entirety.

I'm just not sure if this is the result of warangan; the Sumatran keris does not look heavily eroded enough for this to have ocurred .

6th October 2006, 04:34 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	A Question About Gonjos Often I see a feature on some keris which has puzzled me for some time now . Why are certain gonjos lifted away from the wilah at the tail or greneng end ? This feature must have some meaning or be of a certain style ; can anyone help with the how and why of this ? Attached Images

6th October 2006, 08:22 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Hi David , I believe it's a Maduran ukiran; sorry I didnt show it in its entirety. I'm just not sure if this is the result of warangan; the Sumatran keris does not look heavily eroded enough for this to have ocurred . Attached Images

6th October 2006, 07:42 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Just a guess Rick, but could such a ganja be a replacement? Pamor doesn't flow over from the blade to the ganja. Next to that the ganja doesn't fit properly on the blade like it is one matching piece. I never realized it in that way, but mostly when the ganja fits properly on the blade the pamor also is one with the blade. The ganja is made from the same piece of forged metal and therefore the pamor should match the blade. Interesting question, would like to hear the opinion of our experts.

6th October 2006, 08:07 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Hi Henk , That's something to consider ; but also when you look at the ricikan (correct term?) of both kerises they are similar even though one is Javanese or Maduran and the other seems Sumatran (cross pollination?). About the lack of pamor on the Jawa piece; it is a very old blade and if I recall correctly from a past discussion of this one possibly from the Sultan Agung period; also again if I recall correctly there was some mention of a prohibition during that time of pamored gonjos or of openly displaying the pamor of one's keris . Could this be a feature of dapur; or does dapur not cover the area of the gonjo ?

6th October 2006, 08:14 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	Hi Rick. I believe dapur does cover the area of the gonjo as well, but perhaps others have a different take on that. On the issue of the gonjo having the same pamor as the blade, i don't think this is necessarily the case. There was, if i remember correctly, in certain areas, even a prohibition on pamor on the gonjo of non-court keris. As to the original question at hand, could this not be just the effects of age and acid washing. That has always been my assumption. I have never seen a newly made keris with this "feature". I don't think it is intentional and i don't think it is necessarily a sign of a replacement gonjo either.

6th October 2006, 08:16 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,124	BTW, i love the swastika patern on that Javanese hilt.