Moro: Kalis Seko with old restoration!

[kai]

Hello Maurice,

Yes I noticed those holes also. It could be as you said, but it also could be that this was a first (failed) try to attach the crosspiece to the vertically part of the scabbard, because it was broken at the other side (where the biggest part is missing).....Maybe somebody on the forum can tell us if the moro's used these kind of pegs to attach the crosspiece to the second wooden part...

Yup, wooden pegs are not uncommon to fix the crosspiece to the stem (also seen in other keris as Rick noted). These were most likely original and already present before the fatal break as shown by the less severly affected side.

Thank you for your information, but changing the crosspiece is no option to me..

Sure, that's too nice!

I think also patching is not what i am going to do. Maybe I use some ratan to hide it or some moro fabric, cause I like the restoration and the old patina which I don't want to interfere with....

I do have mixed feelings regarding restoring this piece. If the old repair can be shown to be non-genuine, I could well imagine removing all the rattan and fiber, patching the crosspiece and covering all up with a nice band of silver (and also adding another at the foot of the scabbard and possibly a ferrule). If not, I'd prefer to keep it as it is now (except for a silver band at the foot of the scabbard) rather than trying to cover any of the break as well as repair work...

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

Kai is on target - good responses.

I agree that it is Sulu, etc. I do think the rope etc is later.

The silver band at the end - maybe, maybe not, though it is harder for me to see the patina well enough to tell for sure. These scabbards sometimes did and did not have silver band(s) at the bottom. If it did, it would also most likely have one under the crosspiece as well.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Battara

I agree that it is Sulu, etc. I do think the rope etc is later.

Thank you Jose. But could this be a "done over and over and over" restoration?

Originally Posted by Battara

The silver band at the end - maybe, maybe not, though it is harder for me to see the patina well enough to tell for sure. These scabbards sometimes did and did not have silver band(s) at the bottom. If it did, it would also most likely have one under the crosspiece as well.

My opinion is that it was or ratan, or brass/copper, considering the metal used between the handle and the pommel. If the scabbard would have silver bands, I guess they would also use silver between the handle and the pommel.

[Battara]

Could also be copper or brass bands - need to check a little spot on the band to see if copper or brass - patinas would look the same (copper content on both).
Would have to see close ups of the scabbard to see if the patina matches woven rattan.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by Battara

Could also be copper or brass bands - need to check a little spot on the band to see if copper or brass - patinas would look the same (copper content on both).
Would have to see close ups of the scabbard to see if the patina matches woven rattan.

It is copper and no brass. There is a very little spot on a round edge where the red copper is visible with a magnifying glass. Also it smells heavily like copper.

Here images of the tip of the scabbard where once a band had been. It is approximately 3 cm wide.

[kai]

Hello Maurice,

Here images of the tip of the scabbard where once a band had been. It is approximately 3 cm wide.

That's too wide for most woven rattan bands; also those shadows appear to have smooth sides which would fit metal bands better than usually more rugged rattan, too.

May not be conclusive but I'd tend towards 2 metal rather than rattan bands for this scabbard.

Regards,
Kai

[Battara]

I'm with Kai on this. The patina does not have the the line or woven indentation that comes with tightly wrapped or woven rattan (if I judge the pictures right). It probably had a plain copper top and plain bottom band.

[Maurice]

Originally Posted by kai

Yup, wooden pegs are not uncommon to fix the crosspiece to the stem (also seen in other keris as Rick noted). These were most likely original and already present before the fatal break as shown by the less severly affected side.

Thanks, I will copy-paste this in my brain..

Originally Posted by kai

I do have mixed feelings regarding restoring this piece. If the old repair can be shown to be non-genuine, I could well imagine removing all the rattan and fiber, patching the crosspiece and covering all up with a nice band of silver (and also adding another at the foot of the scabbard and possibly a ferrule). If not, I'd prefer to keep it as it is now (except for a silver band at the foot of the scabbard) rather than trying to cover any of the break as well as repair work...

Ofcourse you are right. If this restoration appears not to be moro work, I would considering patching and make a band around the patch and also just above the thicker scabbardtip.
Therefore my post, I try to figure out if this could be moro or the work of some kind of hobbyist..
After discussing this here with you guys, it would probably be an easier decission for me to make!

About the silverwork....Just below the cacatua pommel there is a "copper" plate as decoration, which has old patina. I guess this material could be used as ferrule instead of silver??

Kind Regards,
Maurice

[kai]

Hello Maurice,

About the silverwork....Just below the cacatua pommel there is a "copper" plate as decoration, which has old patina. I guess this material could be used as ferrule instead of silver??

Overlooked that. What metal is the wire holding it?

Yes, I agree that the scabbard likely had also bands of copper.

Regards,
Kai