Corrosion on gilded keris blade

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I do not know when gold was first used on keris.

My opinion as to the reason for its use is that it would have been used as a hierarchical marker. Certainly not for any talismanic reason.

I also don't have a clue when it first was used.

The blade shown is very old IMHO but I am not sure if we will see a later addition here but I am sure it wasn't done on a selling purpose, I found this blade with a plastic scabbard in a trash box years ago.