Keris Basics

rasdan · 7th January 2005, 02:15 AM

Hi Michael,

Nice to have u in this forum. Perhaps it is almost impossible to list all criteria for a good keris. It is subjective and u have to define your own standards. I think what u need to do is:

1. Avoid buying anything first. At least you had to spend 2 months studying first. Study the standard text (which nechesh had pointed out). It would be helpful if u can read malay or indonesian as since some good literature such as Harsrinuksmo's Ensiklopedi Keris is written in Indonesian.

2. Look at ebay kerisses everyday using all searchword

and comparing prices,

3. Get to know people who are really involved in this for quite some time, find fellow colectors around etc.

4. Handle or at least look at keris pictures (lots of it)

5. Finally, set an objective on what u want to achieve in collecting. If u dont set this, u may found yourself with lots (LOTS) of kerisses in the end of the day.

Theres some javaneese keris yahoo groups available. Perhaps u can meet some people through the groups. If u directly goes to the market and buy it, the probability of u got a fake is quite high. To me, keeping a few very good ones is better than having hundreds of average ones. Expensive ones does not mean good ones. (Depending on your objective and pre-selected criteria) Well, i'm not so great in this, but i think this can be used as a general rule.

Good luck,
Rasdan

rahman · 7th January 2005, 02:25 AM

Dear Michael

Being posted to Indonesia, you're lucky to be right where the 'action' is. There's good advice about looking and feeling before buying. As a beginner myself, I've learnt a lot from the forums here.

You might also want to avail yourself of the Ensaiklopedi Keris by Bambang Harsrinuksmo. It's in Bahasa Indonesia with lots of photos and lots of Javanese terminology. I think it's available at Gramedia bookstores.

Re nechesh's comment about keris gonjo iras, you should differentiate between the keris with a line drawn where the ganja is suposed to be (ganja iras) and a keris sold without a ganja (as you descirbed it).

7th January 2005, 02:15 AM	#1
rasdan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur Posts: 369	Hi Michael, Nice to have u in this forum. Perhaps it is almost impossible to list all criteria for a good keris. It is subjective and u have to define your own standards. I think what u need to do is: 1. Avoid buying anything first. At least you had to spend 2 months studying first. Study the standard text (which nechesh had pointed out). It would be helpful if u can read malay or indonesian as since some good literature such as Harsrinuksmo's Ensiklopedi Keris is written in Indonesian. 2. Look at ebay kerisses everyday using all searchword and comparing prices, 3. Get to know people who are really involved in this for quite some time, find fellow colectors around etc. 4. Handle or at least look at keris pictures (lots of it) 5. Finally, set an objective on what u want to achieve in collecting. If u dont set this, u may found yourself with lots (LOTS) of kerisses in the end of the day. Theres some javaneese keris yahoo groups available. Perhaps u can meet some people through the groups. If u directly goes to the market and buy it, the probability of u got a fake is quite high. To me, keeping a few very good ones is better than having hundreds of average ones. Expensive ones does not mean good ones. (Depending on your objective and pre-selected criteria) Well, i'm not so great in this, but i think this can be used as a general rule. Good luck, Rasdan Last edited by rasdan; 7th January 2005 at 02:32 AM.

7th January 2005, 02:25 AM	#2
rahman Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 84	Dear Michael Being posted to Indonesia, you're lucky to be right where the 'action' is. There's good advice about looking and feeling before buying. As a beginner myself, I've learnt a lot from the forums here. You might also want to avail yourself of the Ensaiklopedi Keris by Bambang Harsrinuksmo. It's in Bahasa Indonesia with lots of photos and lots of Javanese terminology. I think it's available at Gramedia bookstores. Re nechesh's comment about keris gonjo iras, you should differentiate between the keris with a line drawn where the ganja is suposed to be (ganja iras) and a keris sold without a ganja (as you descirbed it).