Banten? Keris

A. G. Maisey · 3rd January 2018, 09:39 PM

David, I believe that the only way anybody can actually get any understanding at all of the Dresden keris is to obtain permission from the relevant curator to examine them.

I did obtain that permission, and the price I had to pay was my signature on a legal document that ensured I could never publish, share, or lend any photograph of any item that I had photographed.

Some other people who have published photographs of these keris have broken the conditions agreed to and have laid themselves open to prosecution.

I personally feel that it might be difficult for a German organisation to pursue charges against an Australian over a matter such as this, but there is the possibility that I may wish to examine these keris again one day, and I want to be able to do so.

Incidentally, every other museum that has permitted me to examine their holdings has imposed similar requirements to those imposed by Dresden. In most cases, not quite as formal, nor as frightening, as Dresden, but legally enforceable just the same. In Dresden it was explained to me that the document I was obliged to sign in order to gain access was the result of previous betrayals of trust.

David · 3rd January 2018, 10:36 PM

Alan, it is my understanding that at least one of these Dresden keris has been published in Jensen's Krisdisk. I have no understanding as to whether or not he did that with or without permission, but to copy the photo here would certainly fall under fair usage for educational purposes. I, for one, do not own a copy of the disk.
Yes, i am certain that to truly understand the Dresden keris one should actually handle them, but if you gentleman are going to continue to make reference to these keris in comparison over and over again it would indeed be useful to see the photograph(s) of them presented in Jensen.
In any case, i certainly was not suggesting that you publish your own personal photos of these keris as i am well aware of the arrangements that you made with this museum when you had the opportunity to handle them.

3rd January 2018, 09:39 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	David, I believe that the only way anybody can actually get any understanding at all of the Dresden keris is to obtain permission from the relevant curator to examine them. I did obtain that permission, and the price I had to pay was my signature on a legal document that ensured I could never publish, share, or lend any photograph of any item that I had photographed. Some other people who have published photographs of these keris have broken the conditions agreed to and have laid themselves open to prosecution. I personally feel that it might be difficult for a German organisation to pursue charges against an Australian over a matter such as this, but there is the possibility that I may wish to examine these keris again one day, and I want to be able to do so. Incidentally, every other museum that has permitted me to examine their holdings has imposed similar requirements to those imposed by Dresden. In most cases, not quite as formal, nor as frightening, as Dresden, but legally enforceable just the same. In Dresden it was explained to me that the document I was obliged to sign in order to gain access was the result of previous betrayals of trust.

3rd January 2018, 10:36 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Alan, it is my understanding that at least one of these Dresden keris has been published in Jensen's Krisdisk. I have no understanding as to whether or not he did that with or without permission, but to copy the photo here would certainly fall under fair usage for educational purposes. I, for one, do not own a copy of the disk. Yes, i am certain that to truly understand the Dresden keris one should actually handle them, but if you gentleman are going to continue to make reference to these keris in comparison over and over again it would indeed be useful to see the photograph(s) of them presented in Jensen. In any case, i certainly was not suggesting that you publish your own personal photos of these keris as i am well aware of the arrangements that you made with this museum when you had the opportunity to handle them.