Many thanks for your comments Kai.
Regrettably I do not share the enthusiasm of the bulk of collectors for these keris that originate from outside the core keris areas of Jawa and Bali. As I commented in post 14 my interest is not really directed in the same way as the interest of other people.
To my mind there is not the smallest doubt that the overall form of rectangular scabbard upper section is originally Javanese, there is ample monumental evidence for this. However, with that form as a starting point, various interpretations occurred in other places. I'm sure that this is of interest to many people, but it is of virtually no real interest to me. It occurred --- so?
I knew Panembahan Harjonegoro (Alm.) personally over a number of years. I would much prefer not to discuss him, or even raise his name. It is best that he rest in peace.
I am familiar with Achim Weihrauch's thesis, but I cannot read it. All the material in the photos I am very familiar with, and judging by the length of this thesis it should be a very worthwhile contribution to keris literature. Regrettably I have only had rather mixed reports in respect of it, and I can offer no personal opinion nor comment at all. I really hope I do not die before it gets put into English, I would very much like to examine this work closely and form my own opinion, instead of relying on the opinions of other people, which may or may not be objective and justified.
Yes, I did not photograph nor examine this keris, as I said, I believe it may have been on display in the Rüstkammer, rather than in the holdings kept in the warehouse. I used the word "may", because I was told by the curator with whom I dealt that the keris on display do change from time to time. If it was on display I would have seen it there, but I have forgotten seeing it.
I feel I owe an explanation for my disinterest in keris from outside the core areas. At one time in my life I was very interested in keris from everywhere, I made no distinction between Javanese, Balinese, Peninsula or any other keris. Every keris --- even those things from the Philippines -- drew my interest. I was primarily a collector. As I learnt more, and very particularly, as I adopted a Javanese set of standards I realised that all keris are not equal, nor do they enshrine the same essence. As cultural artifacts all keris are probably worthy of the same attention, but one lifetime is insufficient time to give all keris the same degree of attention. I have chosen to focus on only one small aspect of one small area. Its called "specialisation", learning more and more about less and less.
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