KERIS IDENTIFICATION

nechesh · 5th November 2005, 04:37 PM

I think Alam hit it right on the head, at least as far as dress is concerned. The eBay pics aren't good enough or close enough to make any good estimate on age, but the dress seems to have a nice patina and sure looks Palembang to me. I think you got a good deal on this one.

Ki Jayamalelo · 5th November 2005, 05:08 PM

Hello Carlos and all Kerislovers,

you made a good deal, because the metallic oversheath seems to me not only tembaga (copper) but suasa, an alloy of gold and copper. Very typical for Palembang.

Ki Jayamalelo

Battara · 5th November 2005, 08:51 PM

I was thinking the sheath was silver with tarnish. As mentioned, better pictures would clear things up.

BluErf · 6th November 2005, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ki Jayamalelo

Hello Carlos and all Kerislovers,

you made a good deal, because the metallic oversheath seems to me not only tembaga (copper) but suasa, an alloy of gold and copper. Very typical for Palembang.

Ki Jayamalelo

I was watching this auction and had wanted to bid because I thought the pendok was suasa too. Its good to hear an independent assessment that is congruent with mine.

BluErf · 6th November 2005, 02:32 AM

Just for comparison - 1st pic is Carlos' keris. 2nd and 3rd pic are swasa accessories in my collection. Slight variation in colours due to different copper/gold content and background.

Btw, my avatar tajong hilt is covered in swasa too.

Battara · 6th November 2005, 03:21 AM

After looking at it closer one more time, I now think that it may be a layer of swassa over copper with the some of the swassa being worn away. The brown parts look like copper at the first stages of oxidation (not yet green).

nechesh · 6th November 2005, 05:11 AM

I'm not sure exactly what you gentlemen are seeing. It looks like silver plate over copper or brass to me. This, i would imagine, is much more common than suasa or even solid silver.

BluErf · 6th November 2005, 08:49 AM

Although the sheath may not be original to the blade, the parts are all old. The swasa pendok is just dirty; It'll polish up good.

6th November 2005, 02:32 AM	#5
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Just for comparison - 1st pic is Carlos' keris. 2nd and 3rd pic are swasa accessories in my collection. Slight variation in colours due to different copper/gold content and background. Btw, my avatar tajong hilt is covered in swasa too. Attached Images

5th November 2005, 04:37 PM	#1
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	I think Alam hit it right on the head, at least as far as dress is concerned. The eBay pics aren't good enough or close enough to make any good estimate on age, but the dress seems to have a nice patina and sure looks Palembang to me. I think you got a good deal on this one.

5th November 2005, 05:08 PM	#2
Ki Jayamalelo Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 18	Hello Carlos and all Kerislovers, you made a good deal, because the metallic oversheath seems to me not only tembaga (copper) but suasa, an alloy of gold and copper. Very typical for Palembang. Ki Jayamalelo

5th November 2005, 08:51 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I was thinking the sheath was silver with tarnish. As mentioned, better pictures would clear things up.

6th November 2005, 03:21 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	After looking at it closer one more time, I now think that it may be a layer of swassa over copper with the some of the swassa being worn away. The brown parts look like copper at the first stages of oxidation (not yet green).

6th November 2005, 05:11 AM	#7
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	I'm not sure exactly what you gentlemen are seeing. It looks like silver plate over copper or brass to me. This, i would imagine, is much more common than suasa or even solid silver.

6th November 2005, 08:49 AM	#8
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Although the sheath may not be original to the blade, the parts are all old. The swasa pendok is just dirty; It'll polish up good.