My first Keris.....but is it a good one??

katana · 11th August 2008, 06:55 PM

Hi,
just won my very first Keris seems to have a clearly etched pamor, the Ganja appears separate. The carving looks quite nice, both on the handle and scabbard. The seller describes it having 'jewels', I suspect, that likely (hopefully) semi precious stones. The only pictures I have are the sellers.

So, please, Gentlemen, all comments / information gratefully received....thank you

Regards David

lemmythesmith · 11th August 2008, 09:43 PM

Hi Katana, congratulations on your first keris!! I bid on that one too

It looks like a Bali "tourist" dress, but is nicely carved. The blade looks to be a good one with real pamor clearly visible. I can't really tell from the sellers photo but the pamor threads seem to continue their pattern into the gongo so it may be one piece with the blade-gongo iras.

A. G. Maisey · 12th August 2008, 12:11 AM

Yes, it is tourist dress, but not a bad example.

I think you'll find that the blade has a gonjo.

I looked this up on UK ebay. For what you paid, you did well.

However, I think that you will find that the "jewels" are plastic---if you're real lucky they might be glass.

asomotif · 12th August 2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

I think that you will find that the "jewels" are plastic---if you're real lucky they might be glass.

Often they are indeed semi precious plastic

A. G. Maisey · 12th August 2008, 02:37 PM

You know, theoretically plastic jewels are just fine in Bali art work. All the texts tell us that in Bali art the important thing is the final effect,not the value of the materials used to achieve that effect, this is the reason that you will not infrequently find diamonds and rubies mixed up with glass in court pieces.

So, if you need to use a bit of plastic to achieve that final effect, does it matter?

My guess is that it does not matter to the Balinese, although we might find it a bit off-putting. But they don't really have to please us bules, do they?

katana · 12th August 2008, 06:41 PM

Thank you very much for all your replies

Sorry lemmythesmith for 'pipping you at the post'

It was the blade's obvious pamor and the nicely carved hilt that attracted me. I wanted at least one to add to my collection. (mind you, I said that when I obtained a Dha ...and now I have two

)
Should I be alittle disappointed that this is in 'tourist dress' ? Hopefully, the jewels are not 'semi-precious' plastic

But having said that, plastic strips were highly prized by a number of African tribes, due to its scarcity. Thanks A. G. Maisey for the 'hint' about the price I paid, its nice to know I didn't pay over the odds.

When I receive it I will post better pictures and discription.

Kind Regards David

11th August 2008, 06:55 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	My first Keris.....but is it a good one?? Hi, just won my very first Keris seems to have a clearly etched pamor, the Ganja appears separate. The carving looks quite nice, both on the handle and scabbard. The seller describes it having 'jewels', I suspect, that likely (hopefully) semi precious stones. The only pictures I have are the sellers. So, please, Gentlemen, all comments / information gratefully received....thank you Regards David Attached Images Last edited by katana; 11th August 2008 at 07:38 PM.

11th August 2008, 09:43 PM	#2
lemmythesmith Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 93	Hi Katana, congratulations on your first keris!! I bid on that one too It looks like a Bali "tourist" dress, but is nicely carved. The blade looks to be a good one with real pamor clearly visible. I can't really tell from the sellers photo but the pamor threads seem to continue their pattern into the gongo so it may be one piece with the blade-gongo iras.

12th August 2008, 12:11 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	Yes, it is tourist dress, but not a bad example. I think you'll find that the blade has a gonjo. I looked this up on UK ebay. For what you paid, you did well. However, I think that you will find that the "jewels" are plastic---if you're real lucky they might be glass.

12th August 2008, 02:37 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	You know, theoretically plastic jewels are just fine in Bali art work. All the texts tell us that in Bali art the important thing is the final effect,not the value of the materials used to achieve that effect, this is the reason that you will not infrequently find diamonds and rubies mixed up with glass in court pieces. So, if you need to use a bit of plastic to achieve that final effect, does it matter? My guess is that it does not matter to the Balinese, although we might find it a bit off-putting. But they don't really have to please us bules, do they?

12th August 2008, 06:41 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thank you very much for all your replies Sorry lemmythesmith for 'pipping you at the post' It was the blade's obvious pamor and the nicely carved hilt that attracted me. I wanted at least one to add to my collection. (mind you, I said that when I obtained a Dha ...and now I have two ) Should I be alittle disappointed that this is in 'tourist dress' ? Hopefully, the jewels are not 'semi-precious' plastic But having said that, plastic strips were highly prized by a number of African tribes, due to its scarcity. Thanks A. G. Maisey for the 'hint' about the price I paid, its nice to know I didn't pay over the odds. When I receive it I will post better pictures and discription. Kind Regards David