20th Century Solonese Keris

A. G. Maisey · 16th May 2007, 01:26 AM

Ganjawulung, it can be of considerable interest for the names of current era pandai keris to be known, however, this is a twin edged sword.

Some current era makers, for reasons of their own, prefer to maintain a low profile. Apart from the makers you have named, since the 1980's there have been a number of other makers in Solo, some quite minor, others quite well known for a while. Many have now moved to other ways of making a living.

Over the years a number of less than honest dealers have marketed keris in the western world as the product of one or another of the better known makers, when in fact these keris were the product of lesser known people, and in some cases were low quality blades from Madura or Surabaya.

At the request of one well known Solo maker I have always refrained from publishing his name, and have in general followed the policy of being very sparing in the use of current era Solo makers names, except in the case of high profile people such as Empu Suparman Supowijaya (alm.), or Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo.

In Jawa, it can under some circumstances be a very positive thing for individual makers to be named and known, but in Jawa the expertise exists to identify the work of these makers. In the western world, it is not always in a maker's best interests, nor in the best interests of collectors, to have a maker's name become public property.

Incidentally, who is the "senior Sukadgo (Solo)" from whom Pak Bandi recieved instruction?

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16th May 2007, 01:26 AM	#10
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,013	Ganjawulung, it can be of considerable interest for the names of current era pandai keris to be known, however, this is a twin edged sword. Some current era makers, for reasons of their own, prefer to maintain a low profile. Apart from the makers you have named, since the 1980's there have been a number of other makers in Solo, some quite minor, others quite well known for a while. Many have now moved to other ways of making a living. Over the years a number of less than honest dealers have marketed keris in the western world as the product of one or another of the better known makers, when in fact these keris were the product of lesser known people, and in some cases were low quality blades from Madura or Surabaya. At the request of one well known Solo maker I have always refrained from publishing his name, and have in general followed the policy of being very sparing in the use of current era Solo makers names, except in the case of high profile people such as Empu Suparman Supowijaya (alm.), or Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo. In Jawa, it can under some circumstances be a very positive thing for individual makers to be named and known, but in Jawa the expertise exists to identify the work of these makers. In the western world, it is not always in a maker's best interests, nor in the best interests of collectors, to have a maker's name become public property. Incidentally, who is the "senior Sukadgo (Solo)" from whom Pak Bandi recieved instruction?