New book about keris

[Marcokeris]

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

I received an email from the author and together the photo of the book. I dont know if the book is ready or not, but next week I'ld know some more about the book.

The author told me the new book will be finished about the end of the year. I saw some pages and really the quality of photos and researches would be excellent (i hope the text will be in bahasa but also in english language).
I put here a picture of the new book

[Michel]

Hi Marco,
You seem to have very special connections with the world of book Edition. You knew before hand the publication of Mrs Ghiringhelli book, you announce now this new book in Jogjakarta. In any case thank you for informing us, this type of information is very useful for collectors.
Yes the keris panjang of page 116/117 in Mrs Ghiringhelli's book is impressive. It is the first, that I have seen, that carries these perforations in the blade and it appears to me as specially long with 62 cm vs 55 and 50 cm for my 3 keris panjang. As in "Traditional weapons of Indonesian Archipelago", page 64, van Zonneveld, mentions lengths of 73cm, 67cm and 57.5cm I am wondering if my keris panjang are not specially short ! ?
What I like in Mrs Ghiringhelli's book is that it shows keris that are not of kratong quality, the kind of weapons you can dream of but have not the means to obtain. They are all interesting, with something special, but they are not out of reach of a normal collector. This book presents, with good photos, a collection of weapons that many of us could have.
Thank you Marco for letting us know about this book.
Regards
Michel

[VVV]

I have now read The Invincible Krises 2 by Mrs Vanna Ghiringhelli.
What's interesting with this book, like Michel also mentioned, is that most of the Keris depicted aren't flamboyant showpieces.
Instead they have been selected for their interesting features that Mrs Ghiringhelli comments.
Compared to Karsten's Krisdisk, which is more of an in depth encyclopedic work, this is like having a conversation with the authour on her Keris.
I especially appreciate the pages about female Keris and also the cultural, as well as mystical and symbolic, explanations of some of the features.
Even if some of her ideas could be questioned she also gives, most of the time, good references for her views.
On the downside I would have appreciated more than one picture of each Keris.
Also I miss explanations on why she doesn't follow traditional regional classifications of some of the hilts and Keris (mostly on Sumatran Keris)
But overall I am very happy that I bought this book and I have learned a lot from it as well as got some new ideas for further studies.

Michael

[Marcokeris]

Another new book about keris is "the magickal kris".
The book is about combat by keris written by an expert in fighting: Mr.Ger Giesen.
In the book there is a chapter (part 3 : the kris and his meaning in javanese culture) written by dutch anthropologist dr. Hilga Prins (work's author: kris and kosmos ). Ms. Prins' written is very interesting and well can joint to latest Ms. Ghiringhelli's work.
The book is cheap and is easy to order to "van Stockum Boekverkopers"

[VVV]

Thanks Marco!!!

Michael