should I or shouldn't I change and repair

Paul de Souza · 16th February 2018, 12:30 PM

I think if you have means to repair it in traditional manner or at least keep to the spirit of the piece..should. For all u know...the Tajong hilt was put in by original seller to "enhance" it and sell to Frey. Or Frey may have put on a hilt he acquired on the keris. Wonder if Frey would have fixed it if he had the means.

Fittings in keris culture get changed regularly, albeit in the "correct" regional form. They get damaged or decay or upgraded. Somehow not right not to do anything if you have the means too.

For me..I get "gerum" if I have a piece with items that dun match. Will try to match but keep to form/region. But then that is my personal preference and I dun own a celebrity piece.

A. G. Maisey · 16th February 2018, 07:36 PM

Is the wrongko original to the blade, or are we looking at a collection of mated pieces that could have been put together by anybody?

If all mated, try to get a better fit of blade to wrongko, replace hilt with a more correct one, mount and display hilt separately.

If wrongko original to blade, replace hilt with a more correct one, mount and display hilt separately.

Alternatively, sell as is with provenance, unless you feel some particular connection with the keris itself, that is, the blade.

Personally, I'd move it on as quickly as I could.

16th February 2018, 07:36 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,056	Is the wrongko original to the blade, or are we looking at a collection of mated pieces that could have been put together by anybody? If all mated, try to get a better fit of blade to wrongko, replace hilt with a more correct one, mount and display hilt separately. If wrongko original to blade, replace hilt with a more correct one, mount and display hilt separately. Alternatively, sell as is with provenance, unless you feel some particular connection with the keris itself, that is, the blade. Personally, I'd move it on as quickly as I could. Last edited by A. G. Maisey; 17th February 2018 at 05:34 AM. Reason: repetition

16th February 2018, 12:30 PM	#1
Paul de Souza Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 66	I think if you have means to repair it in traditional manner or at least keep to the spirit of the piece..should. For all u know...the Tajong hilt was put in by original seller to "enhance" it and sell to Frey. Or Frey may have put on a hilt he acquired on the keris. Wonder if Frey would have fixed it if he had the means. Fittings in keris culture get changed regularly, albeit in the "correct" regional form. They get damaged or decay or upgraded. Somehow not right not to do anything if you have the means too. For me..I get "gerum" if I have a piece with items that dun match. Will try to match but keep to form/region. But then that is my personal preference and I dun own a celebrity piece.