Introduction
 

Hello everyone!
I'm writing to introduce myself as a new member to this forum. I've been buying keris hilts for about 20 years,and was lucky to have experienced a time, when these little dieties were plentiful and easily found. I have acquired my entire collection online, and along the way, have had the privilege of knowing great Keris hilt collectors with a passion for hilts. I owe a debt of gratitude to the late Wolfgang Spielman, who was my friend teacher and mentor, and to Jean Greffoiz, Willie Wilkowitz, Detlef Deuter, Weta Hartanto, and Alan Maisey, all of whom have been kind and generous in sharing their knowledge about Keris, with me. Finally, I have first traveled to Indonesia, as a graduate student and staff member on World Campus Afloat, in 1974, when I visited Jogjakarta and Bali for the first time. A kind guard allowed entrance after hours into Borabadur, and I was able to climb the massive monument and wander among the bells and Buddha's for an hour beholding the magnificent sunset amongst the flying fruit bats, in this amazing prehistoric setting. I also spent an all too short stay on Bali, where I watched many of the traditional dances, including the Kecak dance, and was first introduced to Keris on this magic isle. As a poor graduate student, I collected only memories back then, and it wasn't till many years later when I acquired my first hilt. They remind me of those glorious travels of my youth, that gave me the capacity to appreciate the art and beauty of Keris hilts.
As such I asked to become a member of this body in order to converse with others who have a passion for these beautiful treasures. I look forward to knowing the members of this community.
Regards,
Craig Yamasaki

Hello Sam and welcome! :)

I am also relatively new to this community but I love it. As I am a novice collector, I am fascinated by the pool of knowledge this community shares. I hope you'll enjoy it too. :)

Hello Craig,

glad you join our little forum! :)

Best regards,
Detlef

Well, i don't know whether you prefer to be addressed as Sam or Craig, but welcome either way.
Just out of curiosity do you just collect hilts or do you have blades as well?

Welcome aboard Craig! :)

Welcome Graig :)

Another hilt collector! No wonder there are no hilts left in my neck of the woods! :D :D

Welcome, Craig! This is a good place to be.

PS: When you begin to experience lack of adequate storage space, you can pass the surplus on to me! :cool:

Johan

Hello Craig,

Welcome to our little forum - good to have more and more active members here!

It would be great if you were to post some of your favorite pieces or any that you may wish to discuss...

Regards,
Kai

Hi David While I possess around 6 complete Keris, I only collect hilts. When I first started collecting, my daughters were quite young, and they were terrified by the blades. Besides that my little townhouse couldn't accommodate them. How about you? Storage and display are an issue for any collectors. Can you imagine trying to display 2 or 300 Keris? I found that a lighted dedicated display case with Windows on 3 sides, and a mirrored back worked the best for me. (I have three!)

P.S. Craig would be best, I just used the small attempt at a pun for a nickname, as the website asked for a sign on ID..

Hi Marius,
Thanks for your reply
How long have you been collecting,and how and why did you become interested in collecting Keris hilt?
Regards,
Craig

Hi Johan,
Thanks for your reply and kind offer. I have fond memories of my short visit to Cape Town on the same voyage of World Campus Afloat, that brought me to Indonesia, earlier in my around the world semester at sea. Having a kilo of broiled prawn for dinner, and a fabulous evening at the Nico Milan theater, and the beauty of table mountain are among my fond memories of your great country..

As to the absence of hilts for sale, it must be a challenge to you, being geographically removed from the areas where they are or rather were plentiful. I've been lucky meeting collectors, selling their collection. I'm new to the protocols of this site, but if you would like to contact me directly, I can introduce you to a seller with many great hilts for sale.
Regards,
Craig

Hello Kai,
Thanks for your reply. I intend to do so, and as soon as I figure out how to upload photos I intend to do just that.
I'm curious, how did you become interested in collecting hilts or Keris?

Greetings Detlef,
Thanks again for your help and support becoming a member.
Regards,
Craig

Caio Marco,
Congratulations on your beautiful book and collection.
Say, how do you display your great collection?
Regards,
Craig

Thanks Rick,
Glad to be here. I see.that you've been a member for over ten years. How did you become interested in Keris?
What do you collect, hilts or complete Keris?
Regards,
Craig

Hi Craig. Yes, my interest has always been towards collecting the whole package, with my main interest being in the blades themselves. Display and storage is always an issue as my collection must be near 100 keris at this point. I have a dedicated room in the house for them. My wife insists upon it. ;)

You are welcome Craig! ;)

Founding Father here. :)
I took Joseph Conrad's sea road to East Asia.
I collect all kinds of East Asian edgy stuff; mostly the keris.

I do collect handles; first post in this thread.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16214

I also collect swords etc. from other cultures.

I display hilts on different shelves like this ;)

Hello Marco,

who dedusting it? :D ;) You or your wife?

Regards,
Detlef

I :-D :)

Hello Craig,

Great - here's a link how to post pics:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631


Worse, I'm collecting all kinds of blades from all over maritime Southeast Asia... ;)

I've been interested in SEA cultures and traveling the region way before starting collecting antiques. While quality pieces of most categories of antiques and so-called "tribal art" tend to fetch prohibitive prices, it is still possible to obtain many quality blades for reasonable amounts (prices for high-end pieces keep rising rather swiftly and sure are hurting my funds though).

Regards,
Kai

Holy Cow!
 

Boy, that is quite a grouping of weapons. In case of a major calamity, I'm heading your way to be in a protected environment. All I could do would be to throw handles at intruders!

Craig, my sob story is that I have been a dedicated gun collector and battlefield reenactor since about 1961. I still am an honorary lifetime member of a major Society here in South Africa. However, since our gun legislation has become demonically restrictive, I have switched to become an edged weapons collector. I actually started to specialise in kukris, having accumulated quite a number, but then I unexpectedly got hold of two antique kerisses, which I have researched in depth, driving some of these pundits in this forum nearly up the wall with my dumb questions. ;)

There are some very dedicated and knowledgeable folks on this forum who continue to amaze me with their experience and insight in matters keris. Yet they still accommodate us newbies with infinite patience (although I read between the lines and see the patience wearing a bit thin on occasion, when people like me ask them to date a keris to the year, and they reply: "Oh, it could have been made sometime during the last couple of centuries - maybe!") :D :D :D

Jokes aside, this forum is tops!

Johan

Bring beer! :D

Many thanks Kai,
I'll have a chance to use this link in the near future to posysome photos of some of my hilts. Your information and link provided were helpful and thoughtful of you. I sincerely appreciate your help and assistance.
Warmest regards,
Craig

Great - here's a link how to post pics:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631



Worse, I'm collecting all kinds of blades from all over maritime Southeast Asia... ;)

I've been interested in SEA cultures and traveling the region way before starting collecting antiques. While quality pieces of most categories of antiques and so-called "tribal art" tend to fetch prohibitive prices, it is still possible to obtain many quality blades for reasonable amounts (prices for high-end pieces keep rising rather swiftly and sure are hurting my funds though).

Regards,
Kai[/QUOTE]

Dear Marco
WOW! What a graceful and very artistically balanced and well balanced display. I really like the way you grouped your pieces. In the near future, I'll try to post photos of a few shelves in my display cabinet. I used around 4 different heights for stands in order to provide better views of all the hilts including those in the rear.
Stay tuned!
Caio!
Craig