Nice real old one from Bali

Jason Anstey · 16th October 2007, 07:41 AM

blooody hell!

must weigh a fair bit.

Magnificent piece, thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Jason

A. G. Maisey · 16th October 2007, 09:03 AM

Jason, this sort of work, both in gold and in silver, is not cast, it is fabricated, then it is filled with wax and embossed with hammer and punches, when finished the wax is boiled out, and it is filled with resin.

Yes, it is fairly heavy, but the gold is probably no more than an eighth of an inch thick at its thickest part.

Don't thank only me, but thank the owner as well. I have his permission to show this piece.

Jason Anstey · 16th October 2007, 09:10 AM

Ahhh, me understand now.

By the way, what are the owners daily travelling movements?

Cheers

Jason

PS. You might recall I mentioned about my Fiance and our trip in Bali.

Well, we are expecting our first child late December!!!!!

drdavid · 16th October 2007, 09:20 AM

Dear Alan
could you explain the term 'black stars' please. Do you mean a dark sapphire or ruby with a star inclusion which show up when cabachon cut or is it something different?
cheers
DrD

David · 16th October 2007, 02:32 PM

David, if it is the "black star" that i am familar with it would be diopside, a fairly inexpensive, though pretty, stone.

A. G. Maisey · 16th October 2007, 10:58 PM

Yeah, that's the stuff.

In fact, none of the stones in this handle are particularly valuable, there is a fair bit of gold in the handle, but the thing that sets it apart from other Balinese gold handles is the standard of workmanship:- three different authorities in this field of art have appraised it as the finest work in any gold Balinese handle that they have seen; I myself have never seen any better work. I believe it is probably one of the finest, if not the finest, Balinese keris hilt in existence.

Battara · 17th October 2007, 01:30 AM

thank you Alan for the explaination of the wax process involved and the pictures.

David · 17th October 2007, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

In fact, none of the stones in this handle are particularly valuable, there is a fair bit of gold in the handle, but the thing that sets it apart from other Balinese gold handles is the standard of workmanship:- three different authorities in this field of art have appraised it as the finest work in any gold Balinese handle that they have seen; I myself have never seen any better work. I believe it is probably one of the finest, if not the finest, Balinese keris hilt in existence.

Yes, i think i must agree. Of course i have never had the pleasure of examining anything of this quality in person as i am sure you have Alan. But if you look at the photo in Jessup's book the quality really shines through. If anyone doubts this i really recommend you find this book. Unfortunately the photos in this thread do not do it any justice.

16th October 2007, 02:32 PM	#5
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	David, if it is the "black star" that i am familar with it would be diopside, a fairly inexpensive, though pretty, stone. Attached Images

16th October 2007, 07:41 AM	#1
Jason Anstey Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 102	blooody hell! must weigh a fair bit. Magnificent piece, thanks for sharing. Cheers Jason

16th October 2007, 09:03 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Jason, this sort of work, both in gold and in silver, is not cast, it is fabricated, then it is filled with wax and embossed with hammer and punches, when finished the wax is boiled out, and it is filled with resin. Yes, it is fairly heavy, but the gold is probably no more than an eighth of an inch thick at its thickest part. Don't thank only me, but thank the owner as well. I have his permission to show this piece.

16th October 2007, 09:10 AM	#3
Jason Anstey Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 102	Ahhh, me understand now. By the way, what are the owners daily travelling movements? Cheers Jason PS. You might recall I mentioned about my Fiance and our trip in Bali. Well, we are expecting our first child late December!!!!!

16th October 2007, 09:20 AM	#4
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 372	Dear Alan could you explain the term 'black stars' please. Do you mean a dark sapphire or ruby with a star inclusion which show up when cabachon cut or is it something different? cheers DrD

16th October 2007, 10:58 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,992	Yeah, that's the stuff. In fact, none of the stones in this handle are particularly valuable, there is a fair bit of gold in the handle, but the thing that sets it apart from other Balinese gold handles is the standard of workmanship:- three different authorities in this field of art have appraised it as the finest work in any gold Balinese handle that they have seen; I myself have never seen any better work. I believe it is probably one of the finest, if not the finest, Balinese keris hilt in existence.

17th October 2007, 01:30 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	thank you Alan for the explaination of the wax process involved and the pictures.