Balinese kris from Polish Museum

BluErf · 26th February 2005, 01:41 AM

I think my ganja iras keris is beautiful.

Its of Malay origin, so don't expect any pamor (actually, it has pamor kulit semangka, if you look carefully at the middle portion).

And Adni recently acquired (and sold) a Bugis keris (possibly of Sumatran origins) of the ganja iras form, luk 5 as well. That was a beautiful blade complete with the famed Bugis sturdiness. Its a full featured blade with kembang kacang, sogokan (depan, belakang), greneng, and well controlled pamor. Interesting cross section too as it starts out 'flat oval' at the base, then progress to typical Bugis hexagonal cross-section, then to diamond cross-section near the tip.

I recall seeing and handling at least another 2 ganja iras blades, also of Sumatran origins, with good dapur, beautiful luks, and are well-dressed.

And also, the most amazing one I've seen was a Balinese ganja iras keris more than 3 years ago in Adni's shop. It had pamor similar to junjung darjat (if I remember correctly). I dubbed it the 'zebra' keris then because there were so many peaks that they almost resembled a zebra's strips. Of course, no offense to the blade, but that was a nice, full featured Balinese blade too. The keris was dressed in high quality pelet which I dubbed the 'leopard skin' because it looked like the spots on a cloud leopard. I told Adni that the keris is like a mini-safari, because it was topped off with a Hanuman hilt.

The "Ensiklopedi Keris" is an authoritative book, but I would read it within the Javanese context, mostly.

Btw, the symbolism of ganja and peksi is towards the lingam and yoni, male and female. I have heard that sometimes a female pandai besi would forge a ganja iras keris and the keris would still be considered 'complete' because the pandai herself is the 'female/yoni' aspect. That is one aspect which I would consider to be on the mystical side.

Shortcuts or not, what makes a good beautiful keris would be overall workmanship. We all know there are many bad-looking kerises with ganja.

nechesh · 27th February 2005, 09:44 PM

Hi Kai Wee. I didn't post Harsrinuksmo's quote in support of his comment on the implying a lack of beauty in gongo iras.I, as well, find your example to be quite attractive and i own one that i also find beautiful. I also don't mean to suggest that "Ensiklopedi Keris" is the definitive text on keris. My only point here is that i would have thought that if anybody were to mention a mystical or talismanic purpose specific to gonjo iras it would be Harsrinuksmo due to the nature of his approach to the keris.
I am aware or the lingam/yoni symbolism of the pesi and gonjo that is certainly a part of the "modern" mystical philosophy of the keris, though i wonder when this concept was actually introduced. I don't think there is much to support that this was the original purpose for the seperate gonjo. I find you theory about female pandai interesting and wonder if anyone else has similar information.

wolviex · 17th March 2005, 10:16 PM

Dear Friends!

I would like to thank once more for your commitment in my thread, your thoughts are very helpful and important for me.

At the end I would like to present to you the same keris with pendok on the proper side, with three (not one) rivets, and with the complete material under the pendok.

Thank you once more, of course feel free to discuss new pics

Best regards to you!

capt.smash · 17th March 2005, 10:28 PM

WOW that looks so much better ....drooool....drooool nice work

wolviex · 17th March 2005, 10:37 PM

And I forgot - conservation was made not by me, but our museal specialists - best wishes for them !

Rick · 18th March 2005, 12:08 AM

Three cheers for you Wolviex , without your instigation it may never have happened .

nechesh · 18th March 2005, 12:36 AM

WOW!!! Nice restoration. I am still curious if you ever got a more definitive I.D. on the stones. They still look far too brilliant to be rock crystal to me. Also wonder if you were ever able to determine exactly where this piece was collected from? Give your specialists a pat on the back form us, eh.

BluErf · 18th March 2005, 01:29 PM

Hi Wolviex,

I feel happy for the keris. Could you shake the hands of the museum specialists for me? Tell them they did great.

wolviex · 19th March 2005, 11:16 AM

Thank you for this kind words, I appreciate it. I'm happy you like it

Regards

Henk · 19th March 2005, 01:04 PM

The restoration is well done. The ones who performed it did a good job. But the credits are also to you Wolviex. You brought the attention of them to this piece.

26th February 2005, 01:41 AM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I think my ganja iras keris is beautiful. Its of Malay origin, so don't expect any pamor (actually, it has pamor kulit semangka, if you look carefully at the middle portion). And Adni recently acquired (and sold) a Bugis keris (possibly of Sumatran origins) of the ganja iras form, luk 5 as well. That was a beautiful blade complete with the famed Bugis sturdiness. Its a full featured blade with kembang kacang, sogokan (depan, belakang), greneng, and well controlled pamor. Interesting cross section too as it starts out 'flat oval' at the base, then progress to typical Bugis hexagonal cross-section, then to diamond cross-section near the tip. I recall seeing and handling at least another 2 ganja iras blades, also of Sumatran origins, with good dapur, beautiful luks, and are well-dressed. And also, the most amazing one I've seen was a Balinese ganja iras keris more than 3 years ago in Adni's shop. It had pamor similar to junjung darjat (if I remember correctly). I dubbed it the 'zebra' keris then because there were so many peaks that they almost resembled a zebra's strips. Of course, no offense to the blade, but that was a nice, full featured Balinese blade too. The keris was dressed in high quality pelet which I dubbed the 'leopard skin' because it looked like the spots on a cloud leopard. I told Adni that the keris is like a mini-safari, because it was topped off with a Hanuman hilt. The "Ensiklopedi Keris" is an authoritative book, but I would read it within the Javanese context, mostly. Btw, the symbolism of ganja and peksi is towards the lingam and yoni, male and female. I have heard that sometimes a female pandai besi would forge a ganja iras keris and the keris would still be considered 'complete' because the pandai herself is the 'female/yoni' aspect. That is one aspect which I would consider to be on the mystical side. Shortcuts or not, what makes a good beautiful keris would be overall workmanship. We all know there are many bad-looking kerises with ganja. Attached Images

17th March 2005, 10:16 PM	#3
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 421	After conservation Dear Friends! I would like to thank once more for your commitment in my thread, your thoughts are very helpful and important for me. At the end I would like to present to you the same keris with pendok on the proper side, with three (not one) rivets, and with the complete material under the pendok. Thank you once more, of course feel free to discuss new pics Best regards to you! Attached Images

18th March 2005, 12:08 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,406	Most Excellent Three cheers for you Wolviex , without your instigation it may never have happened .

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27th February 2005, 09:44 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Hi Kai Wee. I didn't post Harsrinuksmo's quote in support of his comment on the implying a lack of beauty in gongo iras.I, as well, find your example to be quite attractive and i own one that i also find beautiful. I also don't mean to suggest that "Ensiklopedi Keris" is the definitive text on keris. My only point here is that i would have thought that if anybody were to mention a mystical or talismanic purpose specific to gonjo iras it would be Harsrinuksmo due to the nature of his approach to the keris. I am aware or the lingam/yoni symbolism of the pesi and gonjo that is certainly a part of the "modern" mystical philosophy of the keris, though i wonder when this concept was actually introduced. I don't think there is much to support that this was the original purpose for the seperate gonjo. I find you theory about female pandai interesting and wonder if anyone else has similar information.

17th March 2005, 10:28 PM	#4
capt.smash Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Devon ,England Posts: 80	WOW that looks so much better ....drooool....drooool nice work

17th March 2005, 10:37 PM	#5
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 421	And I forgot - conservation was made not by me, but our museal specialists - best wishes for them !

18th March 2005, 12:36 AM	#7
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	WOW!!! Nice restoration. I am still curious if you ever got a more definitive I.D. on the stones. They still look far too brilliant to be rock crystal to me. Also wonder if you were ever able to determine exactly where this piece was collected from? Give your specialists a pat on the back form us, eh.

18th March 2005, 01:29 PM	#8
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Hi Wolviex, I feel happy for the keris. Could you shake the hands of the museum specialists for me? Tell them they did great.

19th March 2005, 11:16 AM	#9
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 421	Thank you for this kind words, I appreciate it. I'm happy you like it Regards

19th March 2005, 01:04 PM	#10
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	The restoration is well done. The ones who performed it did a good job. But the credits are also to you Wolviex. You brought the attention of them to this piece.