3 pellet wood Keris with beefy blades

RSWORD · 1st July 2017, 08:42 PM

I have noticed that a lot of these pellet wood Keris tend to come with beefy blades. Is that a fair observation or just my experience? Are these examples all from the same region and same general timeframe? The blades seem of different periods but all big beefy ones. (One is a real beast).

RSWORD · 1st July 2017, 08:47 PM

Here are some close up shots of the blades.

1). Very thick, heavier than other two and seems to have some real age to it.

2). Beefy blade with very fine pamor. The pattern is bold and active and almost reminds me of good wootz.(just in appearance. Of course it is not)

3). Beefy blade with good pamor.

RSWORD · 1st July 2017, 08:48 PM

The pictures did not post in the order I wanted them to but there are two if each blade and I think you can piece them together.

Bjorn · 1st July 2017, 10:54 PM

When you say beefy, are you referring to their size or weight (or both)?

A. G. Maisey · 1st July 2017, 11:23 PM

These look like nice old keris. All are pretty pedestrian quality, the sort of thing an ordinary person would have owned, but they seem to be well preserved and nicely representative.

I would place all the dress as East Jawa. Some would want to put it into Madura, others would run it a little to the west of Surabaya. To my mind this is not a sensible thing to do because this entire area overlaps, there really are no hard & fast boundaries. Madura should always be thought of as East Jawa, just a different part of East Jawa, same as we differentiate between different areas in Central Jawa.

The big beefy blade displays a mixture of pure Tuban and Tuban-Pajajaran characteristics. In essence it is a North Coast blade and fits nicely into the Tuban framework. It would be a good idea to get rid of the ivory? metuk and replace it with a North Coast/Maduro mendak.

The other two blades I would be inclined to place into East Jawa/Maduro. The keris with the red stone mendak displays Mataram influence but I most sincerely doubt it is Mataram, I would need to handle it to form a firm opinion.

The mendak with red plastic? stone should be got rid of and replaced with a recent mendak.

Incidentally, its "pelet", not "pellet".

David · 2nd July 2017, 07:25 PM

I'll add this to the mix. Also East Jawa/Madura. Sorry i don't currently have any photos of the entire sheath, but this beautiful pelet pattern extends all the way down the stem and is perhaps one of the prettiest examples i have seen.
I won't be showing the old blade here, but it is not at all beefy and is just about 13 1/2 inches long.

RSWORD · 2nd July 2017, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuuzan

When you say beefy, are you referring to their size or weight (or both)?

When I say beefy I am referring both to the length and the weight.

RSWORD · 2nd July 2017, 07:24 PM

Thank you Alan for the feedback and information. Have made a note about the proper spelling for pelet.

Jean · 2nd July 2017, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuuzan

When you say beefy, are you referring to their size or weight (or both)?

Hello Yuuzan,
A typical specimen of beefy blade from the pesisir (47.5 cm long excluding the pesi) in comparison to a standard one from East Java (36 cm long).
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 3rd July 2017, 01:19 AM

David, the wood in that wrongko is awar-awar.

The word "pelet" actually has magical connotations and is usually applied to timoho, but some people could stretch it to awar-awar.

Awar-awar is a "good-time" wood. It used to chosen for wrongkos that were specifically intended for wear at festive occasions.

Bjorn · 3rd July 2017, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean

Hello Yuuzan,
A typical specimen of beefy blade from the pesisir (47.5 cm long excluding the pesi) in comparison to a standard one from East Java (36 cm long).
Regards

Many thanks, Jean.
The pasisir blade looks like it comes with a beautiful ukiran as well.

1st July 2017, 08:42 PM	#1
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	3 pellet wood Keris with beefy blades I have noticed that a lot of these pellet wood Keris tend to come with beefy blades. Is that a fair observation or just my experience? Are these examples all from the same region and same general timeframe? The blades seem of different periods but all big beefy ones. (One is a real beast). Attached Images

1st July 2017, 08:47 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	Here are some close up shots of the blades. 1). Very thick, heavier than other two and seems to have some real age to it. 2). Beefy blade with very fine pamor. The pattern is bold and active and almost reminds me of good wootz.(just in appearance. Of course it is not) 3). Beefy blade with good pamor. Attached Images

2nd July 2017, 07:25 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,130	I'll add this to the mix. Also East Jawa/Madura. Sorry i don't currently have any photos of the entire sheath, but this beautiful pelet pattern extends all the way down the stem and is perhaps one of the prettiest examples i have seen. I won't be showing the old blade here, but it is not at all beefy and is just about 13 1/2 inches long. Attached Images

1st July 2017, 08:48 PM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	The pictures did not post in the order I wanted them to but there are two if each blade and I think you can piece them together.

1st July 2017, 10:54 PM	#4
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	When you say beefy, are you referring to their size or weight (or both)?

1st July 2017, 11:23 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,898	These look like nice old keris. All are pretty pedestrian quality, the sort of thing an ordinary person would have owned, but they seem to be well preserved and nicely representative. I would place all the dress as East Jawa. Some would want to put it into Madura, others would run it a little to the west of Surabaya. To my mind this is not a sensible thing to do because this entire area overlaps, there really are no hard & fast boundaries. Madura should always be thought of as East Jawa, just a different part of East Jawa, same as we differentiate between different areas in Central Jawa. The big beefy blade displays a mixture of pure Tuban and Tuban-Pajajaran characteristics. In essence it is a North Coast blade and fits nicely into the Tuban framework. It would be a good idea to get rid of the ivory? metuk and replace it with a North Coast/Maduro mendak. The other two blades I would be inclined to place into East Jawa/Maduro. The keris with the red stone mendak displays Mataram influence but I most sincerely doubt it is Mataram, I would need to handle it to form a firm opinion. The mendak with red plastic? stone should be got rid of and replaced with a recent mendak. Incidentally, its "pelet", not "pellet".

2nd July 2017, 07:24 PM	#8
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	Thank you Alan for the feedback and information. Have made a note about the proper spelling for pelet.

3rd July 2017, 01:19 AM	#10
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,898	David, the wood in that wrongko is awar-awar. The word "pelet" actually has magical connotations and is usually applied to timoho, but some people could stretch it to awar-awar. Awar-awar is a "good-time" wood. It used to chosen for wrongkos that were specifically intended for wear at festive occasions.