Tridacna hilted Keris choices

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Gav,

I am with Penangsang. A stain to the blades will maybe bring out a nice surprise too. The both rare Tridacna hilts seem to be from Sumatra/Peninsula while the blades and sheaths are from Java.

Regards,

Detlef

Thank you Detlef.

I was surprised when they arrived as I thought I bought a pair of ivory hilted Madura Keris and bought them with the intention to pass these on but once I held and viewed the hilts and blades closely, as noted above, I found them so comfortable and personally appealing.
The hilts seem to be a long time marriage and also stuck fast like so many hilts are, something I will remedy. The scabbard however, although having the same long time static patina consistant with the rest of the Keris, to me there are in no way the proper scabbards...but I guess for display the consistancy of keeping them the same prevailed over all other choices. The actual scabbard is the reason why one Mendak is squashed .
Is there a valid reason why these components could be joined together, apart from collector means and choices?

Originally Posted by David

Great hilts. Now i realize that different people sometimes have different ideas when they say "original and untouched", but to my eye i see 2 Javanese (or possibly old Maduran) sheaths and blades with hilt styles from the Peninsula, so i have my doubts that these hilts originally belonged to these blades. In that sense these hilts look a bit out of place on these blades with their Javanese mendaks and sheaths.
That said i would clean the blades and maybe hit the hilts with some mineral oil and a soft toothbrush.

Thanks David,

Yes differences in ideas can come across wrong if not communicated correctly
You all have given me directions to consider, thank you.
Of couse more opinions are welcome whilst I go ponder the direction these will take.

Gav