Gold Leaf Sheath and hilt

milandro · 25th February 2022, 08:35 AM

While I think that the gilding was never covering the entire sarong, I also believe that there are clear wear signs ( due for example being worn in a belt or kept in a Ploncon ), as for which color in on top of which it is clear that the gilding is above the orange, brick-color , undercoat. The Hilt shows also signs of some Black sign of some sort on both face but It is undecipherable.

As for the orange color under the guilding, my wife ( which received a formal art training and studied art history although not specialized in the arts from the east) said that it is not infrequent to guild over an undercoat red or orange because the undercoat tends to influence the hue of the gold leaf, so to show it as “ warmer”

I’ve acquired this keris from a couple whom used to reside in Indonesia since the ’70 their home was chockablock with Items from the archipelago with many of the pieces being certainly antiques, they were not dealer or any such thing, but retired people moving to a smaller house and selling part ( I saw the boxes where the gentleman showed me items not for sale which he was taking with him).

I am showing this to you, certainly not “ off”, for the sole purpose of learning and discussing. Whichever the findings or opinions I will take on board but I am very happy with this piece the way it is .

25th February 2022, 08:35 AM	#10
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 487	While I think that the gilding was never covering the entire sarong, I also believe that there are clear wear signs ( due for example being worn in a belt or kept in a Ploncon ), as for which color in on top of which it is clear that the gilding is above the orange, brick-color , undercoat. The Hilt shows also signs of some Black sign of some sort on both face but It is undecipherable. As for the orange color under the guilding, my wife ( which received a formal art training and studied art history although not specialized in the arts from the east) said that it is not infrequent to guild over an undercoat red or orange because the undercoat tends to influence the hue of the gold leaf, so to show it as “ warmer” I’ve acquired this keris from a couple whom used to reside in Indonesia since the ’70 their home was chockablock with Items from the archipelago with many of the pieces being certainly antiques, they were not dealer or any such thing, but retired people moving to a smaller house and selling part ( I saw the boxes where the gentleman showed me items not for sale which he was taking with him). I am showing this to you, certainly not “ off”, for the sole purpose of learning and discussing. Whichever the findings or opinions I will take on board but I am very happy with this piece the way it is . Attached Images