Enquiry about a Bali keris motif

A. G. Maisey · 15th March 2023, 10:17 PM

For me, one very troubling feature of this keris is the obvious replacement of the gonjo.

The material used is not at all what I would expect to see in even a halfway competent restoration, it looks more like a deliberate attempt to deceive:-

old keris often have the gonjo replaced so let's make that replacement so obvious that even Blind Freddy cannot miss it; & they sure managed that:- spongy, half washed iron, deep acid aging.

Too, too obvious. But maybe only to somebody who has had close contact with the Shonky Boys in certain markets of Central & East Jawa.

But then again, I do tend to doubt almost everything.

It would be useful to see the entire blade & together with its dress.

15th March 2023, 10:17 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,856	For me, one very troubling feature of this keris is the obvious replacement of the gonjo. The material used is not at all what I would expect to see in even a halfway competent restoration, it looks more like a deliberate attempt to deceive:- old keris often have the gonjo replaced so let's make that replacement so obvious that even Blind Freddy cannot miss it; & they sure managed that:- spongy, half washed iron, deep acid aging. Too, too obvious. But maybe only to somebody who has had close contact with the Shonky Boys in certain markets of Central & East Jawa. But then again, I do tend to doubt almost everything. It would be useful to see the entire blade & together with its dress.