Jean, I don't think that this is known for a fact.
I have been told from the first half of the 18th century through to about 1825, however, other people have claimed that they were still producing blades into the beginning of the 20th century, but I have never seen a blade that could be classified as Koripan that was so young as that. The condition that most of them are in, I'd be prepared to accept that they might have begun at least around the beginning of the 18th century.
There are an enormous number of the Koripan blades around.In most cases if a dealer in Central Jawa offers one for sale they will be presented as Mataram, and they are Mataram style, but bigger, coarser and less refined than any of the genuine Mataram sub-types.
|