Golden keris

Boedhi Adhitya · 18th April 2007, 10:03 AM

Regarding the keris #1, well, the gold (if it really gold) certainly new and badly executed. But the blade isn't easily judged from the pictures. It could be old. A newly made keris of this quality from Madura should deserves better kinatah. If not, it only wasting the work of the pande/tukang potong. The dressing, especially the warangka, or more specifically, the wood grains, is good, if not superb. Fragrance sandalwood with Nganam kepang grains (or ndaging urang ?)

About the pendok, as Alan said, embossing is never equal of engraving in the sheer quality. Surakarta tends to prefer the engraving (or 'cukitan') while Jogjakarta prefer the embossing (tatah) technique.

On the pendok #2, Marcokeris has what it called 'tatah wudhulan' (Haryono in his book probably refers it as 'pendulan',(?)). We should have what it seems as a 'rough' surfaces, but should be very 'clear' and details. To achieve this, the craftmen use at least 3 embossing process, first from the face, then from the back and then from the face again. Thus, it is important to have a separate 'center plate' (slorok). Unfortunately, no craftmen today is able to produce the same quality as the old pendok shows. If it really made of suasa and gold, it would cost you somewhere near $1,000 (1$=Rp.10,000.), if you could find one.

Marcokeris · 18th April 2007, 01:38 PM

The gold work of keris n. 1 was really beautiful (one of the best i never seen) but the quality of photo is bad and does not show the work.
Yes, the pendok of keris n. 2 is suasa with gold - plated silver (openwork)
The stone of selut are cheap martapura diamonds

cahaya · 18th April 2007, 02:23 PM

Thanks for (goods) explanation Mas (Mr.) Boedhi,

A. G. Maisey · 20th April 2007, 03:55 AM

As I said, I stated an opinion, and I thank you Pak Boedhi for your opinion.

My designation of the wood in the warangka as "superb" was based on the value placed on such a piece of wood, and the number of times I have seen a comparable piece of wood in any warangka, either old or new. This is brilliant wood by any standard.

I do not understand "Martapura diamonds". Are these the same as intan, or rose cut diamonds? If so, although they may be low priced on the scale of diamond values, used in a selut, they raise the value of the selut considerably in comparison with yakut, cubics, or natural zircons.

Marcokeris · 20th April 2007, 04:27 PM

Thanks Alan and Boedhi for your explanations.
Alan: I call Martapura diamond diamond with impurities and not hight class (v. African diamond)

18th April 2007, 10:03 AM	#1
Boedhi Adhitya Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 103	Regarding the keris #1, well, the gold (if it really gold) certainly new and badly executed. But the blade isn't easily judged from the pictures. It could be old. A newly made keris of this quality from Madura should deserves better kinatah. If not, it only wasting the work of the pande/tukang potong. The dressing, especially the warangka, or more specifically, the wood grains, is good, if not superb. Fragrance sandalwood with Nganam kepang grains (or ndaging urang ?) About the pendok, as Alan said, embossing is never equal of engraving in the sheer quality. Surakarta tends to prefer the engraving (or 'cukitan') while Jogjakarta prefer the embossing (tatah) technique. On the pendok #2, Marcokeris has what it called 'tatah wudhulan' (Haryono in his book probably refers it as 'pendulan',(?)). We should have what it seems as a 'rough' surfaces, but should be very 'clear' and details. To achieve this, the craftmen use at least 3 embossing process, first from the face, then from the back and then from the face again. Thus, it is important to have a separate 'center plate' (slorok). Unfortunately, no craftmen today is able to produce the same quality as the old pendok shows. If it really made of suasa and gold, it would cost you somewhere near $1,000 (1$=Rp.10,000.), if you could find one.

18th April 2007, 01:38 PM	#2
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	The gold work of keris n. 1 was really beautiful (one of the best i never seen) but the quality of photo is bad and does not show the work. Yes, the pendok of keris n. 2 is suasa with gold - plated silver (openwork) The stone of selut are cheap martapura diamonds

18th April 2007, 02:23 PM	#3
cahaya Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 49	Thanks for (goods) explanation Mas (Mr.) Boedhi,

20th April 2007, 03:55 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	As I said, I stated an opinion, and I thank you Pak Boedhi for your opinion. My designation of the wood in the warangka as "superb" was based on the value placed on such a piece of wood, and the number of times I have seen a comparable piece of wood in any warangka, either old or new. This is brilliant wood by any standard. I do not understand "Martapura diamonds". Are these the same as intan, or rose cut diamonds? If so, although they may be low priced on the scale of diamond values, used in a selut, they raise the value of the selut considerably in comparison with yakut, cubics, or natural zircons.

20th April 2007, 04:27 PM	#5
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Thanks Alan and Boedhi for your explanations. Alan: I call Martapura diamond diamond with impurities and not hight class (v. African diamond)