Java keris thoughts

[David]

Originally Posted by SidJ

Yes that part broke off and it has been cut and flattened. It is an old repair and a fairly typical way of dealing with this as I understand it.

While i agree that i have seen breaks "repaired" in this manner before i am not sure that this would be considered to be an appropriate way of dealing with such a problem in cultural usage. I have always understood the ladrang form as "formal dress" and it seems to me that within Javanese society such dress would more typically be replaced for use at formal occasions. I do realize that the owner may not have necessarily had the funds for such a replacement, but question if they would still wear this dress as is. Does anyone know?