A feature of interest

[adamb]

Thank you Alan, for this insight.

It strikes me that an apparent fault in the process of blade manufacture is interpreted as a hallmark of quality and esteem by present-day Bugis-Makasar people, or at least the ones I've talked to about this feature in a particular part of South Sulawesi. I wonder what that could mean; and I wonder, among other things, how far back in time this belief about the symbolic importance of this feature goes.

[A. G. Maisey]

Well Adam, I'm a cynic.

There is no doubt in my mind that flaws and faults in manufacture are interpreted by both makers and sellers as enhancements --- & I'm not only thinking keris here, nor at remote times in the past.

To anybody who understands forge work & the elements of quality blade work, a flaw such as this is a clear indicator of an incompetent smith.

However, to a salesman --- or maybe even the maker himself if he is doing the selling --- it might be interpreted as the Sure & Certain Hand of God.

Yeah.

Right.

Keris knowledge is mostly keris belief, and very few people now or in the past understand the Black Arts of the Forge.

[David]

Originally Posted by adamb

Thank you Alan, for this insight.

It strikes me that an apparent fault in the process of blade manufacture is interpreted as a hallmark of quality and esteem by present-day Bugis-Makasar people, or at least the ones I've talked to about this feature in a particular part of South Sulawesi. I wonder what that could mean; and I wonder, among other things, how far back in time this belief about the symbolic importance of this feature goes.

There are many people in the keris world who would consider this obvious forging flaw to be "complong" and a talismanic feature that increases the value of the keris. Is it the "Hand of God" or simply incompetent forging skills? Believe goes a long way in the keris world.

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by David

There are many people in the keris world who would consider this obvious forging flaw to be "complong" and a talismanic feature that increases the value of the keris. Is it the "Hand of God" or simply incompetent forging skills? Believe goes a long way in the keris world.

Perhaps it was a matter of the keris cracking from the impact of the magical forces from which it protected the maker/owner?

Peoples may come and go, but salesmanship is forever.