51 luk keris with Naga

sjors · 11th July 2008, 02:16 PM

Sorry: did someone help it to "become" a 51 luk keris?...

David · 11th July 2008, 02:55 PM

Yeah, i like the keris holder as well. The keris itself looks like it has been seriously reshaped. You can see that the grain of the metal does not go with the curves of the blade. The naga was probably added at the same time. Not a very skilled job. Seeing this done to a keris saddens me.

Henk · 11th July 2008, 04:29 PM

I agree with David on the keris.
The naga is a later addition. Made for tourist purposes. The luk are also made with the same purpose. The blade is that of an older keris. The luk are not forged but filed. The job is probably done at the same time. A shame to abuse an old keris in this way.

Nice kerisholder. But also not an old one. As far as I can see on the picture made of very light wood. At the base is a dry crack. Actually a mark for these type of kerisholders.

sjors · 11th July 2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Made for tourist purposes

In my opinion that's nowadays a problem in Indonesia: wrecking genuine kerisses for tourist who don't care anyway!

David · 11th July 2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk

Nice kerisholder. But also not an old one. As far as I can see on the picture made of very light wood. At the base is a dry crack. Actually a mark for these type of kerisholders.

Agreed Henk, but for my purposes i don't really mind the more modern holders as long as they are well carved and attractive. Actual antique ones, while made of heavier, denser woods, are very expensive. The shipping alone on those weighty pieces can break your bank...and i'd rather have that money to spend on the keris themselves.

asomotif · 11th July 2008, 09:24 PM

Yes, somebody did a serious file job on this one.

But is had no idea if this was purely for tourists, obviously it was.

The keris holder is indeed light wood. But is is very well made IMHO.
It was the keris holder I was after, the keris just came with it.

Henk · 11th July 2008, 10:03 PM

David and Asomotif.

Nothing wrong with the kerisholder accept it isn't an old one. For the same reason David I also have a "new" one in my room.

A. G. Maisey · 11th July 2008, 10:43 PM

Based upon what I can see in the photographs, this is not an old keris that has been re-shaped, but a recent creation of perhaps the 1970's.

The blade shows no evidence of a core, nor of folding. This material gives every appearance of being plain wrought iron, possibly a piece of carriage strapping, or even wheel rim.

The gonjo has a surface pattern that could possibly indicate folded material, and if this is so, it may be an old gonjo that has been recycled, however, the depth , smoothness and evenness of the surface pattern on the gonjo could indicate that the pattern has been created by a combination of mechanical and chemical means. Another possibility is that it has been made from the same wrought iron as the rest of the blade and the wrought iron layering has been deeply etched in order to reveal it. Physical examination would easily reveal the true nature of this gonjo, but it is difficult from a photograph.

Not a good keris, but interesting in that it shows clearly how far current era keris production has come in a relatively short space of time.

11th July 2008, 02:16 PM	#1
sjors Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 68	Sorry: did someone help it to "become" a 51 luk keris?...

11th July 2008, 02:55 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,212	Yeah, i like the keris holder as well. The keris itself looks like it has been seriously reshaped. You can see that the grain of the metal does not go with the curves of the blade. The naga was probably added at the same time. Not a very skilled job. Seeing this done to a keris saddens me.

11th July 2008, 04:29 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I agree with David on the keris. The naga is a later addition. Made for tourist purposes. The luk are also made with the same purpose. The blade is that of an older keris. The luk are not forged but filed. The job is probably done at the same time. A shame to abuse an old keris in this way. Nice kerisholder. But also not an old one. As far as I can see on the picture made of very light wood. At the base is a dry crack. Actually a mark for these type of kerisholders.

11th July 2008, 09:24 PM	#6
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,228	Yes, somebody did a serious file job on this one. But is had no idea if this was purely for tourists, obviously it was. The keris holder is indeed light wood. But is is very well made IMHO. It was the keris holder I was after, the keris just came with it.

11th July 2008, 10:03 PM	#7
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	David and Asomotif. Nothing wrong with the kerisholder accept it isn't an old one. For the same reason David I also have a "new" one in my room.

11th July 2008, 10:43 PM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,994	Based upon what I can see in the photographs, this is not an old keris that has been re-shaped, but a recent creation of perhaps the 1970's. The blade shows no evidence of a core, nor of folding. This material gives every appearance of being plain wrought iron, possibly a piece of carriage strapping, or even wheel rim. The gonjo has a surface pattern that could possibly indicate folded material, and if this is so, it may be an old gonjo that has been recycled, however, the depth , smoothness and evenness of the surface pattern on the gonjo could indicate that the pattern has been created by a combination of mechanical and chemical means. Another possibility is that it has been made from the same wrought iron as the rest of the blade and the wrought iron layering has been deeply etched in order to reveal it. Physical examination would easily reveal the true nature of this gonjo, but it is difficult from a photograph. Not a good keris, but interesting in that it shows clearly how far current era keris production has come in a relatively short space of time.