a little help please

[sjors]

On the back of the pendok of a Solo keris there is some kind of a mark.:confused:
Please, will somebody be so kind to tell me what it means?
Thank you very much

[PenangsangII]

I dont have a clue, but could it be the empu or mranggi or even the ist owner's signature?

[sjors]

empu, mranggi, owner's signature? All is possible...
(as long it doesn't say: made in taiwan ;) )

[ganjawulung]

Dear Sjors,

This is just additional information on your old “official stamp” on the back of your pendhok. As long as I know, the stamp tells us that the keris (which bears this pendhok) is not a private property. But certain “palace’s” property.

Let me try to tell you the caraka (javanese) scripts in the middle of the “official stamp”. The first character could be spelled as “le” (please spell it as “le” as French spelling) and “ga” ( please spell it as “gaw” in English spelling).

But there are two meaning of the first word, “le”. The Javanese call the character as “nga-lelet” so must be spelled as “le” . But it could mean “number two” too.

The second word beside “le” or “two” could be spelled in two ways too. Could be spelled as “ga” or “gaw” in English spelling. But could be spelled as “number one”.

So the complete spelling of the caraka script (if I'm not mistaken) is “21”. In my opinion, this pendhok (keris) belongs to certain palace or certain place, with number of inventory “21”.

I hope it will help…

GANJAWULUNG (Jakarta, June 1, 2008)

[sjors]

Dear Ganjawulung,

Thank you very much for your help, another part of the "puzzle" is solved :)

Yours sincerely, Sjors

[ganjawulung]

Dear Sjors,

I have also pendhoks -- some are not in good condition -- which bear different symbols in the back. Some with Javanese scripture (caraka script), but the other only depicting symbols. It is also possible, that the symbols were made by private owner to differ his or her property from others... Maybe for his own inventory or identification.

Regards,

GANJAWULUNG (Jakarta, June 1, 2008)

[Bill S]

Dear Sjors,

I have also pendhoks -- some are not in good condition -- which bear different symbols in the back. One of mine very closely resembles your third example - the one with the numbers 15, 55 divided by the design. Mine of course has different numbers, but the layout is identical, making me think they were perhaps part of the same collection at one time. Or from whatever source the markings indicate. Do you happen to know more about the meaning of the markings or the origin of this piece?

[ganjawulung]

... from whatever source the markings indicate. Do you happen to know more about the meaning of the markings or the origin of this piece?

Dear Bill,

Really I don't have any idea about that markings, Bill... I am still trying to seek more informations on that...

Regards,

GANJAWULUNG (Jakarta, June 2, 2008)