Interesting big sized javanese keris

[A. G. Maisey]

The following 20 or so images are examples of similar wood grains.

I cannot correctly name all the different types of wood that are shown here. I can name some with absolute certainty, I can guess at others, and there are some that I do not know.

I am inviting everybody to nominate the images which are images of kemuning.

[A. G. Maisey]

A few more.

[A. G. Maisey]

And a few more.

[A. G. Maisey]

The examples of wood that I posted yesterday have been viewed 110 times since they were posted.

It appears that none of these 110 views has been sufficient to permit any of the viewers to identify the examples of kemuning.

Here are the woods that I know with absolute certainty:-

akasia:-

6, 4, 3, 2, 11, 8, 16

pau marfin:-

13, 21

Tasmanian blackwood:-

22

#1 is probably akasia, but I am not certain.

the following numbers I am uncertain of; I can guess that some are kemuning, but I do not know with absolute certainty that this is the case:-

20, 10, 9, 7, 5, 18, 17, 15, 12, 19, 23 & 23.

Note:- I made an error in numbering, there are two examples identified as #23

[Sajen]

Yup, who want to be sure about the sort of wood after this discussion? You show us with conclusive arguments how difficult it is to destine the nature of a wood. On the other hand you also suspect that the shown wrongkos from Bugis and Peninsula are possible kemuning.
Who have read this thread will be in future more distrustful by descriptions from sellers which wood is used by a wrongko/sarung of a keris.

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes Sajen, that was the point of the exercise.

As we have commented time and time again:-

here, we are looking at images of objects, wood included, not the actual object


it is often very difficult to be too certain about anything.

I do believe some of the Bugis and Peninsula examples are kemuning, but I don't really know, because the kemuning I have seen and handled most of has been only as big as a jejeran, and nearly always stained. It is entirely possible that there are other local woods used in these Bugis and Peninsula examples that I do not know.

[kai]

Hello Alan,

I do believe some of the Bugis and Peninsula examples are kemuning, but I don't really know, because the kemuning I have seen and handled most of has been only as big as a jejeran, and nearly always stained. It is entirely possible that there are other local woods used in these Bugis and Peninsula examples that I do not know.

Another contributing factor is the climate (in addition to the local growing conditions) which can have a pronounced effect on such figured woods: e. g. #9 seems to show the effect of a more pronounced monsoonal climate like in northern Malaya but the results on the wood can be much stronger. Will add pics later.

Regards,
Kai