Poisoned keris blade

[kai]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

A few months ago, I got this one keris originated from Pagaralam, South Sumatera.

Did you obtain this keris from Pagar Alam or was its origin inferred from stylistic features?


I'm with the others, that partial hardening of the blade seems to be responsible for your observations; the pamor is continuing to the base (if somewhat less visible).

It is quite possible that remnants of a former warangan treatment got activated during your cleaning and increased the staining. While it is certainly possible that the pamor could be enhanced further by fresh warangan, I'd be very careful to instruct Javanese mranggi to not overdo the etch (i. e. cleaning and staining for a very short time only); even if agreed upon, there is always the chance that the blade may end up looking heavily corroded like many keris Jawa...

Warangan was most certainly utilized in southern Sumatra (probably by the close interaction of the Palembang Sultanate with keraton Jawa; also the Sundanese were influential in Lampung). I'm less sure what the current preference of local collectors is though.


I agree with the others: The minute amounts of arsenic left on any blade are not poisonous. Actually, quite a bit is needed for acute poisoning. However, sublethal doses also can have deleterious effects on health and probably contribute to cancer. Thus, it is certainly germane to avoid unnecessary exposure. BTW, quite a few wells for drinking water in the region have elevated levels of arsenic...

If keris blades ever got treated with poison, it would have to be something else and much stronger (given the iconic nature this may be rather unlikely for keris Jawa though). Most accounts seem to refer to hidden weapons with strong poison or weapons of war (most likely spears) that got prepared by letting them accumulate rust (certainly not helping healing with additional chances of tetanus infection) and additional germs from carcasses may speed things up, too.

Regards,
Kai