new Keris, some questions

morel5000 · 6th March 2022, 02:22 PM

Dear all,

I would like to present my new Keris, which I could pick up locally.
It has been in the family from the dutch soldier who took it with him since 1946.

As a starter I still have some questions:

Could someone identify the Pamor?
How old would the Wilah be?
What wood is the Waranka?

Any comments would be welcome,

Thanks for your time,
Michel

A. G. Maisey · 7th March 2022, 01:19 AM

Pamor:- wos wutah (beras wutah --- scattered rice (talismanic value to protect against want)

Age of blade:- very ballpark, circa 1850

Wrongko wood:- impossible to know, but as a guess, taking into consideration perceived age and quality, Cendana Jawa (Cendono Jowo, Javanese Sandalwood)

kai · 7th March 2022, 07:30 AM

Alan, do you think the mendak is replaced or even repaired? It seems of a very basic grade and I wonder when these started to pop up...

Regards,
Kai

kai · 7th March 2022, 07:32 AM

Hello Michel,

You only show the backside of the scabbard - I suspect the brass pendok might have been reversed...

Regards,
Kai

A. G. Maisey · 7th March 2022, 08:10 AM

Kai, it might be as well to just pass over the mendak, it is most certainly not old and "basic" is being kind.

Really, its not a bad old keris, yes, untidy, but with a bit of attention it could be made to look pretty OK.

If Michel feels like doing that, the mendak could be replaced along the way.

David · 7th March 2022, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kai

Hello Michel,

You only show the backside of the scabbard - I suspect the brass pendok might have been reversed...

Regards,
Kai

I suspect you are correct, unless the photograph became flipped somewhere along the way. A pendok like this generally would not have the repousse design on both sides and we would expect this dress to appear as it does below in when we flip the image that has been presented to us. But this should be an easy adjustment by sliding the pendok off and placing it the other way round.

morel5000 · 7th March 2022, 07:12 PM

Thanks for all the answers, I added some more photo's of the wood, the pendak and the blade.

The photo isn't flipped, I noticed the decoration being on the other side as my other Kerisses, but didn't register it. I never thought it should always be on the same side. I will see if I can flip it.

Although simple it looks like it is a handmade driven decoration.

I already cleaned the wood with some wood oil and it does look better already (not in these pics).
How should I give some attention to the blade? I have been searching already on the forum and I am not able to wash with arsenic.

A. G. Maisey · 7th March 2022, 08:15 PM

Pendok are not always easy to remove.

To begin with they are a pressure fit, sometimes the gandar can be wrapped with cloth, or paper to create that pressure fit, sometimes jabung can be used to hold the pendok in place, sometimes corrosion can build up on the inside of the pendok and all these things, as well as other things, can make a pendok difficult to remove.

Sometimes the gandar will separate from the gambar, leaving the gandar stuck inside the pendok, if this happens we need a segrek to remove it.

Judicious application of heat will always assist in removal.

6th March 2022, 02:22 PM	#1
morel5000 Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 12	new Keris, some questions Dear all, I would like to present my new Keris, which I could pick up locally. It has been in the family from the dutch soldier who took it with him since 1946. As a starter I still have some questions: Could someone identify the Pamor? How old would the Wilah be? What wood is the Waranka? Any comments would be welcome, Thanks for your time, Michel Attached Images

7th March 2022, 07:12 PM	#7
morel5000 Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 12	Thanks for all the answers, I added some more photo's of the wood, the pendak and the blade. The photo isn't flipped, I noticed the decoration being on the other side as my other Kerisses, but didn't register it. I never thought it should always be on the same side. I will see if I can flip it. Although simple it looks like it is a handmade driven decoration. I already cleaned the wood with some wood oil and it does look better already (not in these pics). How should I give some attention to the blade? I have been searching already on the forum and I am not able to wash with arsenic. Attached Images

7th March 2022, 01:19 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	Pamor:- wos wutah (beras wutah --- scattered rice (talismanic value to protect against want) Age of blade:- very ballpark, circa 1850 Wrongko wood:- impossible to know, but as a guess, taking into consideration perceived age and quality, Cendana Jawa (Cendono Jowo, Javanese Sandalwood)

7th March 2022, 07:30 AM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Alan, do you think the mendak is replaced or even repaired? It seems of a very basic grade and I wonder when these started to pop up... Regards, Kai

7th March 2022, 07:32 AM	#4
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Michel, You only show the backside of the scabbard - I suspect the brass pendok might have been reversed... Regards, Kai

7th March 2022, 08:10 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	Kai, it might be as well to just pass over the mendak, it is most certainly not old and "basic" is being kind. Really, its not a bad old keris, yes, untidy, but with a bit of attention it could be made to look pretty OK. If Michel feels like doing that, the mendak could be replaced along the way.

7th March 2022, 08:15 PM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,892	Pendok are not always easy to remove. To begin with they are a pressure fit, sometimes the gandar can be wrapped with cloth, or paper to create that pressure fit, sometimes jabung can be used to hold the pendok in place, sometimes corrosion can build up on the inside of the pendok and all these things, as well as other things, can make a pendok difficult to remove. Sometimes the gandar will separate from the gambar, leaving the gandar stuck inside the pendok, if this happens we need a segrek to remove it. Judicious application of heat will always assist in removal.