Enquiry about a Bali keris motif

[A. G. Maisey]

For me, one very troubling feature of this keris is the obvious replacement of the gonjo.

The material used is not at all what I would expect to see in even a halfway competent restoration, it looks more like a deliberate attempt to deceive:-

old keris often have the gonjo replaced so let's make that replacement so obvious that even Blind Freddy cannot miss it; & they sure managed that:- spongy, half washed iron, deep acid aging.

Too, too obvious. But maybe only to somebody who has had close contact with the Shonky Boys in certain markets of Central & East Jawa.

But then again, I do tend to doubt almost everything.

It would be useful to see the entire blade & together with its dress.

[Anthony G.]

Hi All

rest of available photos, pics not mine and courtesy of the owner.

[A. G. Maisey]

Thank you Anthony.

That does not look like Bali to my eye, 35 conventional count luk?

Then the sogokan with luk?

Not a real good idea to diss Siwa. Not good at all.

come on --- pull the other one.

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Then the sogokan with luk?

Not a real good idea to diss Siwa. Not good at all.

Valid point i had not considered.

[SidJ]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Thank you Anthony.

That does not look like Bali to my eye, 35 conventional count luk?

Then the sogokan with luk?

Not a real good idea to diss Siwa. Not good at all.

come on --- pull the other one.

Nice one Alan,
Possibly the punchiest and best comment I've read on this forum thus far! Yes, not a good plan to diss the Destroyer (or the Renovator as I prefer to refer to Lord Shiva) !

[A. G. Maisey]

So, if some of us can agree that perhaps a degree of wisdom was absent in whoever made this blade, is it possible that this blade was made by a person who respected Lord Siwa?

[SidJ]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

So, if some of us can agree that perhaps a degree of wisdom was absent in whoever made this blade, is it possible that this blade was made by a person who respected Lord Siwa?

Perhaps the old meanings underlying the structure were lost or not considered important enough. Perhaps the influence of Hinduism is fading away at least away from Bali?

[David]

Originally Posted by SidJ

Perhaps the old meanings underlying the structure were lost or not considered important enough. Perhaps the influence of Hinduism is fading away at least away from Bali?

Well, the observation does perhaps force us to reassess the time frame, and possibly the location in which this keris was created.