If one would be made for you how would it be?

A. G. Maisey · 13th December 2008, 12:01 PM

I'm really surprised that this thread has not been flooded with posts. To my way of thinking, this is one of the most interesting topics that has been opened in some time.

My approach to this would be a bit different to Ferry's.

I would want a keris that was the best piece of keris art that I could obtain.

Like Ferry, I would want a straight keris, because I believe that traditional keris artistic concepts are better expressed in a straight keris than in a waved keris.

I would not want nagas or singa barongs or any other carving, and I would not want kinatah work.

Most importantly, I would want the best work available, so to begin with, I would try to decide who was the best current maker.

I would also want sole authorship, which means that I would want the bakalan and calon forged by the same man who did the bench work.

With all those parameters in place, my choice of maker would be pretty limited.

I would then talk to that maker, explain what I wanted and ask him what pamor he considered was his best, and what dhapur he was most comfortable working with.

I would ask him to name his price, which I would then double---on the understanding that if what he produced was in any way less than perfect, I had the right to reject it, and he would do the job again---and again----and again, until I was satisfied with the result.

I would want the surface aged very lightly, just sufficient to enhance the pamor, and I would probably do the warangan myself.

I have not mentioned any of the details that I would request that the maker used in his approach, and I have not mentioned dress.

Does anybody else have any ideas on what might go to make his dream keris?

13th December 2008, 12:01 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	I'm really surprised that this thread has not been flooded with posts. To my way of thinking, this is one of the most interesting topics that has been opened in some time. My approach to this would be a bit different to Ferry's. I would want a keris that was the best piece of keris art that I could obtain. Like Ferry, I would want a straight keris, because I believe that traditional keris artistic concepts are better expressed in a straight keris than in a waved keris. I would not want nagas or singa barongs or any other carving, and I would not want kinatah work. Most importantly, I would want the best work available, so to begin with, I would try to decide who was the best current maker. I would also want sole authorship, which means that I would want the bakalan and calon forged by the same man who did the bench work. With all those parameters in place, my choice of maker would be pretty limited. I would then talk to that maker, explain what I wanted and ask him what pamor he considered was his best, and what dhapur he was most comfortable working with. I would ask him to name his price, which I would then double---on the understanding that if what he produced was in any way less than perfect, I had the right to reject it, and he would do the job again---and again----and again, until I was satisfied with the result. I would want the surface aged very lightly, just sufficient to enhance the pamor, and I would probably do the warangan myself. I have not mentioned any of the details that I would request that the maker used in his approach, and I have not mentioned dress. Does anybody else have any ideas on what might go to make his dream keris?