Existentialistic question

A. G. Maisey · 22nd June 2011, 10:43 PM

Possibly there is no definitive answer to these questions, for any of us. There certainly is not for myself.

I started to collect a very long time ago, and initially I collected everything sharp & pointy. Then I developed an interest in Jawa and S.E. Asia in general, and my collecting more or less concentrated on this area of the world. I still acquired other things from time to time.

Eventually my interest turned completely to keris and the items that Javanese people call "tosan aji".

Then my focus narrowed even further and my principal interest became the keris of Jawa and Bali, and especially archaic forms thereof.

As my focus has become more concentrated the items that are not central to my specific interests have been sold.

So, what has happened is that my collecting has actually controlled itself, in accordance with my varying focus at different points in time.

I very seldom buy anything these days, for the simple reason that I very seldom see anything that is specific to my interests that is both worth buying, and affordable.

It is a very regrettable fact of life that the only way I can improve upon what I already have is to spend very much more money than I have available.

As to what will happen to it all when I am finally promoted.

For some time I have been trimming from around the furthest edges of my collection, and this will continue.

Certain items that I have, such as the work of Empu Suparman and Empu Pauzan , as well as my own work, will be bequeathed to a suitable public facility. The same will apply to a couple of pieces with royal provenance.

I'd like to pass my handle collection in the same direction, but I doubt that I will find any institution that will accept it.

Anything that remains when I move on will be my childrens' problem, not mine.

Except for one Surakarta keris that was given to me many years ago, and is a family pusaka keris; that will be returned to the eldest son of the current generation of that family.

I have never had any sort of difficulty nor obstruction from anybody I have been married to or living with that has interfered in even the smallest degree with the way in which I chose to spend my money.

22nd June 2011, 10:43 PM	#19
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Possibly there is no definitive answer to these questions, for any of us. There certainly is not for myself. I started to collect a very long time ago, and initially I collected everything sharp & pointy. Then I developed an interest in Jawa and S.E. Asia in general, and my collecting more or less concentrated on this area of the world. I still acquired other things from time to time. Eventually my interest turned completely to keris and the items that Javanese people call "tosan aji". Then my focus narrowed even further and my principal interest became the keris of Jawa and Bali, and especially archaic forms thereof. As my focus has become more concentrated the items that are not central to my specific interests have been sold. So, what has happened is that my collecting has actually controlled itself, in accordance with my varying focus at different points in time. I very seldom buy anything these days, for the simple reason that I very seldom see anything that is specific to my interests that is both worth buying, and affordable. It is a very regrettable fact of life that the only way I can improve upon what I already have is to spend very much more money than I have available. As to what will happen to it all when I am finally promoted. For some time I have been trimming from around the furthest edges of my collection, and this will continue. Certain items that I have, such as the work of Empu Suparman and Empu Pauzan , as well as my own work, will be bequeathed to a suitable public facility. The same will apply to a couple of pieces with royal provenance. I'd like to pass my handle collection in the same direction, but I doubt that I will find any institution that will accept it. Anything that remains when I move on will be my childrens' problem, not mine. Except for one Surakarta keris that was given to me many years ago, and is a family pusaka keris; that will be returned to the eldest son of the current generation of that family. I have never had any sort of difficulty nor obstruction from anybody I have been married to or living with that has interfered in even the smallest degree with the way in which I chose to spend my money.