Javanese keris /nice wood /...blade ??

[asomotif]

I bought this keris based on some pictures of the handle and scabbard.

Now it turns out to have a rather simple small blade (24 cms without the peksi)
It seems to be an all original item well fitted in the scabbard.
But the blade looks very simple compared to the wood that must have had some values in past times.

Any suggestions on the blade, (and wood)

[sirek]

I think the wood is a form of:

Timoho Pelet - Belang Sapi

( kleinhovia-Hospita )

[Rick]

Pelet or paint ?

It's a Gonjo Iras blade .
A Kebo form of some sort ?
Is that an older Madura style mendak ?

Regardless, for some reason it appeals to me .

[Henk]

I'm afraid as Rick suggested the pellet wood is painted. Did you try to clean the wood? You should try it on a small not very visible spot. I think you will notice the paint will be on the cloth while cleaning. Be careful please, because it is after all a nice keris. Painted pellet is often seen. Is the backside of the scabbard plain wood? 1 to 10 the pellet is painted.

[Rick]

Pelet or painted , I find it pleasing .

[David]

Well, it does seem odd that someone would paint a false pelet line right through the top cecekan instead of inbetween the two where i would think it would be more pleasing.

[asomotif]

I'm afraid as Rick suggested the pellet wood is painted. Did you try to clean the wood? You should try it on a small not very visible spot. I think you will notice the paint will be on the cloth while cleaning. Be careful please, because it is after all a nice keris. Painted pellet is often seen. Is the backside of the scabbard plain wood? 1 to 10 the pellet is painted.

Henk, I think this is real pellet wood.
The wrangka and ukiran both have visible signs of being cleaned in the past with either fine sandpaper or steel wool. Would the paint survive that ?

I have also tried cleaning it with a damp cloth and even applied some very fine sandpaper one 1 spot. But notjing comes of.

The bottom of the scabbard is made from one piece.
The back is mostly dark.

Anyway, I am quite sure it is not painted. Which brings me to the question.
What kind of blade is this ?
It looks very simple. But why the fancy wood ?
Is this an old blade ?

[Rick]

Neither the dress nor the blade seem new .

@ Henk, that was more a question than a suggestion as I posed it .

[Sajen]

Hello Willem,

when the warangka and hilt kendit is original it's a very nice dress and I agree with you that the blade look's oddly but I agree with Rick that the blade is old. Special the kembang kacang is unsual.

Detlef

[David]

The kembang kacang almost looks like it was an after thought. I even wondered if it had been done at a later time.
Yes Willem, the blade is a simple one. It is village work that doesn't look particularly skillful. So when you ask why the fancy wood i think that it is anybody's guess. If the wood is indeed real pelet and if the sheath was indeed actually made for the blade then it would seem that this keris was important to someone for some reason. But we could really speculate forever on the reasoning and all we would be doing is just guessing. Someone must of liked this blade, but i don't believe it was because it is any special type of keris. It certainly isn't based upon the quality of the blade.

[BluErf]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Henk, I think this is real pellet wood.
The wrangka and ukiran both have visible signs of being cleaned in the past with either fine sandpaper or steel wool. Would the paint survive that ?

I have also tried cleaning it with a damp cloth and even applied some very fine sandpaper one 1 spot. But notjing comes of.

The bottom of the scabbard is made from one piece.
The back is mostly dark.

Anyway, I am quite sure it is not painted. Which brings me to the question.
What kind of blade is this ?
It looks very simple. But why the fancy wood ?
Is this an old blade ?

There is this method using the soldering iron tool, which can produce black/brown burn marks on wood. We used to do art and craft using this method in school.

[David]

Originally Posted by BluErf

There is this method using the soldering iron tool, which can produce black/brown burn marks on wood. We used to do art and craft using this method in school.

I'm not convinced yet that it isn't painted or dyed, but i don't think the marks look as if they were burnt on.

[BluErf]

The gandar may be real pelet wood, but the wrangka is and hilt are the suspects. Woodburning techniques can achieve a longer lasting effect and you can even have differential tones depending on the length of time spent on burning each part. This artwork shows what can be achieved...


http://www.bobsartinwood.com/gallery/pages/Z2.htm

[Alam Shah]

The kendit on the hilt and sheath cross-piece, doesn't look natural to me. As for the kembang kacang, I'm with David.. perhaps it and after thought.. looking at the structure, where the kembang kacang is, seems disturbed, as though it's attached.. of course, I could be mistaken..

[asomotif]

The kendit on the hilt and sheath cross-piece, doesn't look natural to me. As for the kembang kacang, I'm with David.. perhaps it and after thought.. looking at the structure, where the kembang kacang is, seems disturbed, as though it's attached.. of course, I could be mistaken..

I will clean the blade and maybe this will give some better idea of the kembang kacang. It seems like an original item to me, but crudely finished.

As for the pellet. If possible I will make some better pictures.

Best regards,
Willem

[asomotif]

Surprise, they stained, burned or dyed the inside of the wrangka

[Rick]

Why they'll stop at nothing !!

[David]

Inconceivable!!!

[BluErf]

Anybody noticed how the grain above the kendit line and the grain below it is different?

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by BluErf

Anybody noticed how the grain above the kendit line and the grain below it is different?

Yes, I do.. besides that, the colour looks 'kinda off', as though it is treated.. or is it the lighting effect?

[Rick]

I'm betting its lighting .
Very interesting grain change at the kendit line .