A feature of interest

adamb · Today, 02:48 AM

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 · Today, 06:55 AM

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.

Today, 02:48 AM	#1
adamb Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 13	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.

Today, 06:55 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,898	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.