Modern keris bethok

Jean · 27th July 2023, 08:30 AM

I have personally not much to say about these modern pieces, only that the pamor does not look typical of Pulo Tirto (islands in the sea) IMO, and the dapur is odd....
Regards

milandro · 27th July 2023, 08:38 AM

well the Dhapur, color and pamor (whatever it is) is what attracted me.

I find it very nicely styled and I particularly appreciate the fact that they decided not to immerse it in acid to give it a pretend ancient look. I wanted to have precisely such thing and a German dealer in Denpasar whom I had asked to be on the lookout showed me this. It was not too expensive so I decided to acquire it.

Thank you for your comment Jean, maybe others would care to join in the conversation

David · 29th July 2023, 03:29 PM

Well, i might have something to say, but for some reason this is all i can currently see of your posted bethok.

milandro · 29th July 2023, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Well, i might have something to say, but for some reason this is all i can currently see of your posted bethok.

I have no idea why, but I can see it perfectly and Jean has seen it too (or he wouldn't have been able to comment) , there has to be something wrong, maybe your browser?

David · 29th July 2023, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milandro

I have no idea why, but I can see it perfectly and Jean has seen it too (or he wouldn't have been able to comment) , there has to be something wrong, maybe your browser?

Yeah, weird. I can see it now, so some kind of weird browse glitch to something. Yours seems like a nice modern example. If i were to acquire a modern example of this form i would also prefer one that has not been artificially aged.

milandro · 29th July 2023, 07:08 PM

cheers , yes, I like its simplicity and I find it very pure in its shape. Odd, yes, maybe, but odd isn't necessarily bad

A. G. Maisey · 29th July 2023, 11:35 PM

I have not previously commented because I cannot see anything to comment on.

It is a current era keris, the craftsmanship appears to be middle of the road, ie, neither good nor poor, the form is moderately unusual, but this is a pretty common characteristic of current era keris, it has a random pamor that was probably too thin to begin with --- or maybe the slorok was too thick --- & was unable to support the carver's needs. The curve where the blumbangan meets the kruwingan appears to be very clumsy, but this could just as easily be because of the way the light falls.

The wrongko is poorly carved, I cannot comment on the hilt because I cannot see enough of it.

I cannot see anything in this keris that would make it weird or unusual for a current era keris of this quality. I rather like the elongated gandhik with its Sunda style curve, the gonjo appears to be neatly fitted, I do not like the failure to manage the ada-ada in a more harmonious way, but any minor criticisms that might be able to be made of this keris are not justifiable:- it is what it is, and it does not pretend to be a major work of art.

29th July 2023, 03:29 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,209	Well, i might have something to say, but for some reason this is all i can currently see of your posted bethok. Attached Images

27th July 2023, 08:30 AM	#1
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	I have personally not much to say about these modern pieces, only that the pamor does not look typical of Pulo Tirto (islands in the sea) IMO, and the dapur is odd.... Regards

27th July 2023, 08:38 AM	#2
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 487	well the Dhapur, color and pamor (whatever it is) is what attracted me. I find it very nicely styled and I particularly appreciate the fact that they decided not to immerse it in acid to give it a pretend ancient look. I wanted to have precisely such thing and a German dealer in Denpasar whom I had asked to be on the lookout showed me this. It was not too expensive so I decided to acquire it. Thank you for your comment Jean, maybe others would care to join in the conversation

29th July 2023, 07:08 PM	#6
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 487	cheers , yes, I like its simplicity and I find it very pure in its shape. Odd, yes, maybe, but odd isn't necessarily bad

29th July 2023, 11:35 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,988	I have not previously commented because I cannot see anything to comment on. It is a current era keris, the craftsmanship appears to be middle of the road, ie, neither good nor poor, the form is moderately unusual, but this is a pretty common characteristic of current era keris, it has a random pamor that was probably too thin to begin with --- or maybe the slorok was too thick --- & was unable to support the carver's needs. The curve where the blumbangan meets the kruwingan appears to be very clumsy, but this could just as easily be because of the way the light falls. The wrongko is poorly carved, I cannot comment on the hilt because I cannot see enough of it. I cannot see anything in this keris that would make it weird or unusual for a current era keris of this quality. I rather like the elongated gandhik with its Sunda style curve, the gonjo appears to be neatly fitted, I do not like the failure to manage the ada-ada in a more harmonious way, but any minor criticisms that might be able to be made of this keris are not justifiable:- it is what it is, and it does not pretend to be a major work of art.