WHICH SUNDANG?

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Ganja, I thank you for your compliment, however, I cannot understand why you would consider that any opinion given upon the basis of photographs could possibly be more valid than an opinion given in the physical presence of a keris.

I'm positive that everybody who has had any lengthy contact with keris has made many errors when attempting appraisal of a keris. All of the really big name people whom I have known personally have made errors, not once, but repeatedly, and I myself have made many errors. These errors have been made with the keris in hand.

Now, when we consider that all we have to work with in respect of a photograph , is a flat two dimensional image that in most cases lacks even a reasonable rendition of detail, then it is inevitable that the error count will rise. To fairly judge a keris we need to hold it in the hand, consider it in three dimensions, consider the percieved weight and balance, consider the texture of the material, and consider many other details that simply cannot be provided in even the very best photograph, let alone an inferior image on a computer screen.

Any opinions that are given upon the basis of a photograph must be viewed as tentative only. The opinions that you would receive from your friends when they actually have the blade in hand must be given much more weight than any opinion given here, no matter who gives that opinion.