Sumatran keris

[rasdan]

In my opinion this type of blade style spreads throughout West Java up to Palembang in Sumatera. There is very little reliable guide can be used to differentiate accurately the origin of the blade. It could well be a Sumatran piece as well as West Java piece. Style indicators can be mixed with pieces from this area.

In my opinion, what is important is that this blade has good quality and the overall blade style and dress matches the possible geographical origin of the keris. No point arguing on the origin of the blade.

[David]

That’s a lot to determine from a single over all photo viewed on the internet. Also, I am currently looking at this on my phone, so I don’t have the best view. We all know that certain in areas of Sumatra such as Palembang keris were greatly influenced by Jawa.
I might change my mind later when I can see this photo more closely, but this could very well be a Sumatran blade.

[David]

I will also say that if we are to look at a photo and try to assess a keris that the best orientation to do that is with the keris pointing upwards.

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by David

I will also say that if we are to look at a photo and try to assess a keris that the best orientation to do that is with the keris pointing upwards.

True, thanks for the advice
I will keep that in mind.

[A. G. Maisey]

Thank you Kai, I thought it looked familiar, and if that was my description when I listed it, it is still my description now.

I cannot remember everything, and once a keris leaves my hands the info I have on it gets put away.

EDIT

I've been reflecting on this keris, and I think it provides a very valuable lesson for all of us.

We all understand that it is often difficult to appraise a keris from a (usually) poor image on a screen. OK, that's a given.

But here we have a keris that I had for many years, that I sold several years ago, and that when I saw it on the screen, it confused me, I had forgotten it & did not recognise it as one I had once had in my possession.

To a degree this reflects my aging memory, but I think that just as much, it reflects how difficult it can be to appraise a keris from a photograph.

We all need to remember that a photo is only a very small part of the story, we should never be too certain about anything when the only information available is an image, especially when that image is on a screen.