Introduction and Empu Mudra keris

globalnomad · 16th January 2025, 02:12 AM

Thank you David and Alan for the recommendations.

I have been going over a lot of the discussions and learning so much. I'll make sure to review the archives for additional information.

I was lucky enough to find the Neka museum during my last visit and will return again as there's so much to take in. I'm sure we can all just spend hours going over those two rooms.

I appreciate being pointed to the Bali Provincial State Museum as I haven't visited there so that will be on my next itinerary.

Thank you again to you both of you as a lot of my learning has been from your responses in the discussions along with some of the other senior members of the forum.

If there are any other Empus / shops / museums or other keris related places in Bali or Java that anyone recommends, I'd appreciate the input.

Thanks,
Alejandro

David · 22nd January 2025, 07:41 PM

Globalnomad, one thing i would recommend that you do is to make a careful comparison to the quality of craft in these older Bali keris with the one you have presented here.

SidJ · 29th January 2025, 04:15 PM

Is that keris really made by a bona-fide Empu or a self professed one?

David · 29th January 2025, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidJ

Is that keris really made by a bona-fide Empu or a self professed one?

Ketut Mudra is indeed well respected in Bali and often acknowledged as the last pande who still knows the proper rites and mantras necessary to create a keris suitable to becoming pusaka. He does descend from a long line of pande besi and apparently began making keris in 2000.
I have rarely seen the title of "Empu" applied to pande keris in Bali and the same system of keraton appointed keris makers does not, as far as i know, exist in Bali. However, in 2025 many things are different in the keris world than they once were. As you can see in the article and the video i have posted below, Ketut Mudra is indeed being recognized by others as an Empu.
None of this, however, speaks specifically to craft or skill level when it comes to creating a high art keris.

https://www.nowbali.co.id/empu-keris...acred-daggers/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQrr4EsnL_I

Sajen · 29th January 2025, 09:05 PM

Is the keris blade in question really worked by pande Mudra? By all respect, the blade in question looks like it was made by a beginner!?

Regards,
Detlef

SidJ · 30th January 2025, 12:07 AM

Looks like the skill in carving in the finer details on the blade are a direct function of the thickness of the wheel on the angle grinder being so enthusiastically used in David's video! That's a hard no for me personally.

A. G. Maisey · 1st February 2025, 05:05 AM

David is absolutely correct in respect of his remarks about Pande Ketut Mudra.

He is descended from a long line of pandes who served the Puri Klungkung.

He is probably the last pande keris living who knows the old mantras.

Yes, his art work is perhaps not as good as the art work of some other keris makers, but artwork is only one aspect of keris production, Pande Ketut Mudra is highly respected by the people of his own culture & society, and the elements of any culture are the property of the people who own that culture.

It is not the place of any person from outside a culture to criticize the craftsmen who work within any culture.

16th January 2025, 02:12 AM	#1
globalnomad Member Join Date: Jan 2025 Location: Jakarta Posts: 2	Thank you David and Alan for the recommendations. I have been going over a lot of the discussions and learning so much. I'll make sure to review the archives for additional information. I was lucky enough to find the Neka museum during my last visit and will return again as there's so much to take in. I'm sure we can all just spend hours going over those two rooms. I appreciate being pointed to the Bali Provincial State Museum as I haven't visited there so that will be on my next itinerary. Thank you again to you both of you as a lot of my learning has been from your responses in the discussions along with some of the other senior members of the forum. If there are any other Empus / shops / museums or other keris related places in Bali or Java that anyone recommends, I'd appreciate the input. Thanks, Alejandro

22nd January 2025, 07:41 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Globalnomad, one thing i would recommend that you do is to make a careful comparison to the quality of craft in these older Bali keris with the one you have presented here.

29th January 2025, 04:15 PM	#3
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 207	Is that keris really made by a bona-fide Empu or a self professed one?

29th January 2025, 09:05 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,164	Is the keris blade in question really worked by pande Mudra? By all respect, the blade in question looks like it was made by a beginner!? Regards, Detlef

30th January 2025, 12:07 AM	#6
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 207	Looks like the skill in carving in the finer details on the blade are a direct function of the thickness of the wheel on the angle grinder being so enthusiastically used in David's video! That's a hard no for me personally.

1st February 2025, 05:05 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	David is absolutely correct in respect of his remarks about Pande Ketut Mudra. He is descended from a long line of pandes who served the Puri Klungkung. He is probably the last pande keris living who knows the old mantras. Yes, his art work is perhaps not as good as the art work of some other keris makers, but artwork is only one aspect of keris production, Pande Ketut Mudra is highly respected by the people of his own culture & society, and the elements of any culture are the property of the people who own that culture. It is not the place of any person from outside a culture to criticize the craftsmen who work within any culture.