Neka

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, the close-ups are of recent keris, but they appear to be very fine recent keris.

In Indonesia today fine keris by the top current makers are highly regarded as serious art-work, they command very high prices, and are often sold before they are finished.

Lew, when you say:- "---there is a secondary bevel on the edges of the blades that is a dead give away---" I suspect that you are probably talking about the kusen (also "gusen"). The kusen is a correct feature of any high quality blade in good condition, you will find it in well maintained Surakarta blades of the 19th century, and it exists on older blades that left Jawa and Bali when they were still new. It is not found in blades that lack artistic excellence, and it is not found in blades where considerable erosion has occurred, but we do expect to see this feature in any well maintained blade with any pretensions at all to artistic expression.

I have spoken with several people who have visited this Neka gallery, and by all accounts it is a truly beautiful exhibition of the art of the keris.