Once again I thank you very much for sharing your insight
Someone with great skill took great care to create this, and it took them quite a bit of time. I never realised the carving would take such a long time after the forging process. I wonder what the person who made it would say to us discussing it on the internet today... I reckon they might be as overwhelmed by the mere idea as I am by the symbolism of his creation.
I have a few followup questions on the details of the making of a keris for today. It boils down to: How many people would play a part in creating a keris from raw materials to the finished product?
Someone other than the smith made the coal I guess? Did it have to be special coal for high heat and did the coal have a ritual meaning as well? Someone would have to collect the iron, who did that? And who refined it into a metal that was ready to be forged into a keris? Then there is the empu/pandai keris who made the blade and he was assisted by 2 strikers, if I understood this bit correctly? Were the strikers apprentices or just "hired labour"? After the blade is done, I understand someone else creates the scabbard and the hilt. Who creates the mendak? And who does the kinatah? And who is responsible for imbueing the keris with its spiritual powers?
It seems quite a lot of people would have played a part in creating this, but I have not been able to find out just how many it must have been... however, I am sure you will know
I was also wondering if you share pictures of the keris you crafted? I would be very curious, haven't found any yet though.
Thanks again Mr. Maisey, your knowledge is invaluable