SOLO KRATON KERIS AUCTIONED / GIFT FROM JAVANESE ROYALS TO DUTCH BANKER

A. G. Maisey · 19th August 2016, 01:14 PM

Willem, I have interpolated my response:-

- KRATON keris :
not likely

AGREED

- KRATON gift :
could be, as some kraton gifts can be of low quality and many can claim royalty

AGREED

- GOOD FORGING proven by balance of the keris :
No relation between balance and good forging. it is more about center of gravity. (PS, I tried to balance my Zwilling kitchenknife. it was very difficult, altough it really does the job in the kitchen)

YES, THE KERIS BALANCING THING IS A PARTY TRICK, ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF OF ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF THE KERIS

- GOOD FIT of the keris in Scabbard :
No, not really a good fit. Might be due to the replaced gonjo.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THE FIT OF AN OLD KERIS TO AN OLD SCABBARD IS NOT REALLY ALL THAT IMPORTANT. YES, I KNOW I'M VOICING A DIFFERENT OPINION TO THAT OF MANY VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE COLLECTORS LIVING OUTSIDE INDONESIA. PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES.
I'M NOT GOING USE THE SPACE NEEDED TO SUPPORT WHAT I HAVE JUST WRITTEN, BUT THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT THAT ITS ALL ABOUT THE MAN, NOT THE CLOTHES HE'S WEARING.

- ROYAL FAMILY CREST on pendok :
A not recognisable crest and a very common decoration.

YES

- RED CLOTH insertion in the pendok claiming kraton use :
Not true, kraton use would mean red paint. cloth can be inserted at any time.

TRUE, BUT RED IN THIS CONTEXT COULD BE READ AS AN INDICATOR OF RANK. I AM NOT SAYING IT IS, I AM SAYING IT IS POSSIBLE

- SELUT :
1970's selut, a bit strange on a keris claimed to be mid 19th cent.

YES

- UNIQUE MENDAK with the name of the banker :
No firm answer on this one, but personally I think this was part of some office utensil. maybe a stamp combined with upper and lower part of a mendak.

POSSIBLY

Somebody bought a poor keris with a rich story.

YEAH --- WELL YOU KNOW WHAT WE SAY ABOUT THAT. NO NEED TO REPEAT IT.

19th August 2016, 01:14 PM	#25
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,049	Willem, I have interpolated my response:- - KRATON keris : not likely AGREED - KRATON gift : could be, as some kraton gifts can be of low quality and many can claim royalty AGREED - GOOD FORGING proven by balance of the keris : No relation between balance and good forging. it is more about center of gravity. (PS, I tried to balance my Zwilling kitchenknife. it was very difficult, altough it really does the job in the kitchen) YES, THE KERIS BALANCING THING IS A PARTY TRICK, ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF OF ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF THE KERIS - GOOD FIT of the keris in Scabbard : No, not really a good fit. Might be due to the replaced gonjo. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THE FIT OF AN OLD KERIS TO AN OLD SCABBARD IS NOT REALLY ALL THAT IMPORTANT. YES, I KNOW I'M VOICING A DIFFERENT OPINION TO THAT OF MANY VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE COLLECTORS LIVING OUTSIDE INDONESIA. PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES. I'M NOT GOING USE THE SPACE NEEDED TO SUPPORT WHAT I HAVE JUST WRITTEN, BUT THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT THAT ITS ALL ABOUT THE MAN, NOT THE CLOTHES HE'S WEARING. - ROYAL FAMILY CREST on pendok : A not recognisable crest and a very common decoration. YES - RED CLOTH insertion in the pendok claiming kraton use : Not true, kraton use would mean red paint. cloth can be inserted at any time. TRUE, BUT RED IN THIS CONTEXT COULD BE READ AS AN INDICATOR OF RANK. I AM NOT SAYING IT IS, I AM SAYING IT IS POSSIBLE - SELUT : 1970's selut, a bit strange on a keris claimed to be mid 19th cent. YES - UNIQUE MENDAK with the name of the banker : No firm answer on this one, but personally I think this was part of some office utensil. maybe a stamp combined with upper and lower part of a mendak. POSSIBLY Somebody bought a poor keris with a rich story. YEAH --- WELL YOU KNOW WHAT WE SAY ABOUT THAT. NO NEED TO REPEAT IT.