Java keris thoughts

A. G. Maisey · 22nd January 2023, 01:13 AM

Sid, the sirah cecak (lizard head, front part of gonjo), can be classified as Tuban, if the back part has the right shape it can be confirmed as Tuban, so please, back of gonjo pic.

This is obviously old, it is probably Tuban, very conservative age estimate:- pre-1850.

The loss of the front of the wrongko atasan disqualifies this wrongko from use as a dress keris. The other ways of attending to this break are to adhere a new piece of wood & re-carve, or to reshape the entire wrongko into a "kacir" form.

The mendak looks more like gold over brass, to confirm that it is in fact gold you need to demount it & and test scrapings from the inside of large ring, ie, the ring that contacts the hilt.

Actual gold mendaks are very scarce, they are normally set with true precious stones, usually diamonds or rubies, but not of high quality, they are normally of very fine workmanship.

rasdan · 22nd January 2023, 11:28 AM

Hi Sid.

I am not a Javanese keris hilt connoisseur or specialist, but I must say, the hilt looks quite nice. Probably you can share the straight on photo of the cecakan (the stylised face carving) too?

Usually good handles will have a dudukan i.e the recessed base of the hilt for the mendak but this one does not have it. (Good Solo handles most of the time will have a recessed base, but not all hilt with recessed base are good handles - this is my impression at the current time) Probably somebody flatten it off to fit in a different mendak.

In fact, the entire setup of this keris is quite good if part of the warangka was not broken off. Somebody probably loved this keris very much at some point of its existence.

SidJ · 22nd January 2023, 12:20 PM

Ganja pic No 2.

SidJ · 22nd January 2023, 12:37 PM

Further pics.

SidJ · 22nd January 2023, 12:50 PM

Further pictures attached

rasdan · 22nd January 2023, 01:08 PM

Thanks Sid. It is a very nice hilt IMHO. If the carvings are symmetric, this is not not something we encounter too often. Most hilts are village quality. I think this one is not.

SidJ · 22nd January 2023, 03:44 PM

Hi Rasdan
Thanks. Ive had a look at some other keris I have and they all have similar symmetrical faces on the hilts. I dont know what to make of this.

rasdan · 23rd January 2023, 12:53 AM

Hi Sid, It depends on the level of symmetry, the flow of the curves and the cleanliness of the carving. The photo you provide does not give that view, but I think it is nice enough to be above average.

Now I don't know what real high level kraton carving should like, this is my impression what is nice. Below are 3 cecekan. 1 is new, common and OK and one is village quality, the one with selut is a nicer one - to my eyes. Of course we need to see the hilt as a whole too, but this is just regarding the cecekan carving.

22nd January 2023, 12:20 PM	#3
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 233	Ganja pic No 2. Attached Images

22nd January 2023, 12:37 PM	#4
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 233	Further hilt pics Further pics. Attached Images

22nd January 2023, 12:50 PM	#5
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 233	Further hilt pics Further pictures attached

23rd January 2023, 12:53 AM	#8
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hi Sid, It depends on the level of symmetry, the flow of the curves and the cleanliness of the carving. The photo you provide does not give that view, but I think it is nice enough to be above average. Now I don't know what real high level kraton carving should like, this is my impression what is nice. Below are 3 cecekan. 1 is new, common and OK and one is village quality, the one with selut is a nicer one - to my eyes. Of course we need to see the hilt as a whole too, but this is just regarding the cecekan carving. Attached Images Last edited by rasdan; 23rd January 2023 at 01:09 AM.

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22nd January 2023, 01:13 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Sid, the sirah cecak (lizard head, front part of gonjo), can be classified as Tuban, if the back part has the right shape it can be confirmed as Tuban, so please, back of gonjo pic. This is obviously old, it is probably Tuban, very conservative age estimate:- pre-1850. The loss of the front of the wrongko atasan disqualifies this wrongko from use as a dress keris. The other ways of attending to this break are to adhere a new piece of wood & re-carve, or to reshape the entire wrongko into a "kacir" form. The mendak looks more like gold over brass, to confirm that it is in fact gold you need to demount it & and test scrapings from the inside of large ring, ie, the ring that contacts the hilt. Actual gold mendaks are very scarce, they are normally set with true precious stones, usually diamonds or rubies, but not of high quality, they are normally of very fine workmanship.

22nd January 2023, 11:28 AM	#2
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hi Sid. I am not a Javanese keris hilt connoisseur or specialist, but I must say, the hilt looks quite nice. Probably you can share the straight on photo of the cecakan (the stylised face carving) too? Usually good handles will have a dudukan i.e the recessed base of the hilt for the mendak but this one does not have it. (Good Solo handles most of the time will have a recessed base, but not all hilt with recessed base are good handles - this is my impression at the current time) Probably somebody flatten it off to fit in a different mendak. In fact, the entire setup of this keris is quite good if part of the warangka was not broken off. Somebody probably loved this keris very much at some point of its existence.

22nd January 2023, 01:08 PM	#6
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Thanks Sid. It is a very nice hilt IMHO. If the carvings are symmetric, this is not not something we encounter too often. Most hilts are village quality. I think this one is not.

22nd January 2023, 03:44 PM	#7
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 233	Hi Rasdan Thanks. Ive had a look at some other keris I have and they all have similar symmetrical faces on the hilts. I dont know what to make of this.