51 luk keris with Naga

[David]

Originally Posted by Henk

Nice kerisholder. But also not an old one. As far as I can see on the picture made of very light wood. At the base is a dry crack. Actually a mark for these type of kerisholders.

Agreed Henk, but for my purposes i don't really mind the more modern holders as long as they are well carved and attractive. Actual antique ones, while made of heavier, denser woods, are very expensive. The shipping alone on those weighty pieces can break your bank...and i'd rather have that money to spend on the keris themselves.

[asomotif]

Yes, somebody did a serious file job on this one.

But is had no idea if this was purely for tourists, obviously it was.

The keris holder is indeed light wood. But is is very well made IMHO.
It was the keris holder I was after, the keris just came with it.

[Henk]

David and Asomotif.

Nothing wrong with the kerisholder accept it isn't an old one. For the same reason David I also have a "new" one in my room.

[A. G. Maisey]

Based upon what I can see in the photographs, this is not an old keris that has been re-shaped, but a recent creation of perhaps the 1970's.

The blade shows no evidence of a core, nor of folding. This material gives every appearance of being plain wrought iron, possibly a piece of carriage strapping, or even wheel rim.

The gonjo has a surface pattern that could possibly indicate folded material, and if this is so, it may be an old gonjo that has been recycled, however, the depth , smoothness and evenness of the surface pattern on the gonjo could indicate that the pattern has been created by a combination of mechanical and chemical means. Another possibility is that it has been made from the same wrought iron as the rest of the blade and the wrought iron layering has been deeply etched in order to reveal it. Physical examination would easily reveal the true nature of this gonjo, but it is difficult from a photograph.

Not a good keris, but interesting in that it shows clearly how far current era keris production has come in a relatively short space of time.

[asomotif]

Thank you all for the interesting background info and opinions

perhaps the 1970's.

This would be in line with the period that it was collected by the former owner.

To me the Gonjo / Ganja appears to be an old one. (considering the insight these comments have given me )

interesting in that it shows clearly how far current era keris production has come in a relatively short space of time.

That remark must be in a positive way I assume.
Weird stuff like this in no longer made ?

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by asomotif

This would be in line with the period that it was collected by the former owner.

To me the Gonjo / Ganja appears to be an old one. (considering the insight these comments have given me )?

Correct me if I'm wrong... In the 70's, it's the beginning of 'made to look old' new production pieces, and modified old pieces. It went pass the 80's... perhaps the 'golden age'... till present.

Originally Posted by asomotif

That remark must be in a positive way I assume.
Weird stuff like this in no longer made ?

On the contrary, afaik... still in production from borneo... and perhaps elsewhere. We've known the Sumatran-styled keris panjang and some variants being used, carried in history. I've seen old Sumbawa and Peninsular Malaysia variants... but Javanese? A question... was long pieces like these ever a norm or in use in keraton, regalia or in Javanese culture or elsewhere? Especially the wavy ones...

[Battara]

And notice that the naga isn't even gold plate - it is brass - and not well done