Keris

A. G. Maisey · 19th November 2015, 03:12 AM

Thanks for clarifying that Green.

Yes, some people who are not aware of keris culture do polish keris blades as if they were European weapons. They just don't understand.

Balinese keris are polished clean, rather than chemically cleaned, and I'm inclined to think Javanese keris in the distant past might have been cleaned in the same way.

David · 19th November 2015, 05:30 AM

It should also be noted, of course, that the tradition of keris care and maintenance is not the same in Malaysia as it is, say, in Jawa or Madura. This, being a Maduran keris, should most probably be maintained in the traditions of that area of Indonesia.
As Alan pointed out, it is the correct method in Bali to polish keris clean and stain them with warangan. This polished look may have one time been the tradition on Jawa as well, but what as developed there over time (and Madura as well) is the preference for the rough, topographical finish on the blade created by acid washing instead. Many Malay blades i see, on the other hand, don't use arsenic to darken the blade at all. Keris culture throughout Indonesia and the Peninsula is not a standardized block of traditions.

Gustav · 19th November 2015, 09:43 AM

It should be said here, that some very high quality pamorless malayan blades were polished and stained as well.

19th November 2015, 03:12 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Thanks for clarifying that Green. Yes, some people who are not aware of keris culture do polish keris blades as if they were European weapons. They just don't understand. Balinese keris are polished clean, rather than chemically cleaned, and I'm inclined to think Javanese keris in the distant past might have been cleaned in the same way.

19th November 2015, 05:30 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	It should also be noted, of course, that the tradition of keris care and maintenance is not the same in Malaysia as it is, say, in Jawa or Madura. This, being a Maduran keris, should most probably be maintained in the traditions of that area of Indonesia. As Alan pointed out, it is the correct method in Bali to polish keris clean and stain them with warangan. This polished look may have one time been the tradition on Jawa as well, but what as developed there over time (and Madura as well) is the preference for the rough, topographical finish on the blade created by acid washing instead. Many Malay blades i see, on the other hand, don't use arsenic to darken the blade at all. Keris culture throughout Indonesia and the Peninsula is not a standardized block of traditions.

19th November 2015, 09:43 AM	#3
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,280	It should be said here, that some very high quality pamorless malayan blades were polished and stained as well.