Thread: Javanese Keris?
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Old 13th November 2015, 03:10 PM   #2
David
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I wouldn't call it a display item or a tourist piece Harry. You haven't really provided very good photos for a better assessment though. I do suspect from what i can see that yours is a fairly recent one, late 20th century or later. Very hard to tell without clear close-ups though. The crack was probably intentional rather than being a forging flaw, but it is hard to tell in the photos.You are probably right that this keris was not intended as a physical weapon, giving this long crack in the blade. Keris serve many purposes within Javanese culture and sometimes their purpose is more talismanic than practical. They also serve as an aspect of formal dress. So no, this wasn't made specifically as a wall hanger. There is some lore about the mystical power of gazing through such openings made in the blade. When these openings are made with this purpose in mind it is called combong.
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