A Plastic Keris? for comment.

nechesh · 13th April 2005, 10:02 PM

Wayne, if you want to hear the keris speak, try putting it under your pillow at night.

As i mentioned before, we have seen these composite sheath and hilts before and had a thread about them. I believe that originally they are being presented with newly made keris as tourist items. I don't believe the original intention of this dress was to deceive or hold your 19thC blade. The ones i have seen previously were also Sumatran dress and it may very well be a Sumatran product. Of course, the Chinese are very good at using this composite stuff and the work might be imported for an Indonesian market.
It seems neither ironic nor by chance that someone would place an old Sumatran blade in this dress if their intention was to fool an unwary buyer. As for the "good blade"/"bad blade" issue, i couldn't agree with you more. Very few of us have either the money or opportunity to collect really high end pieces. And while the keris culture was certainly dictated from the top of the hierachal food chain (i.e.the kraton) it certain permeated the entire culture, from the poorest farmer to the highest courtesan. All keris are worthy in my book, even the simplest of village pieces.They are all cultural artifacts with a history and a story. Of course, that doesn't mean i don't try to collect well made keris, but if a piece appeals to me the quality might at times be secondary.

BSMStar · 13th April 2005, 11:18 PM

Hi nechesh,

I hope what I said was not offensive (my apologies)... I did not mean to question you. And my second two paragraphs were not intended to be directed toward you. Sometimes I ramble on too much.

I am only curious about the origin of these keris, (my first thought was that they may be coming from China or else were too). It will be interesting to see what, and how many of these plastic pieces "crop" up.

I fully agree with you nechesh. I collect those keris that "sing" or "speak" to me in some deep and meaningful way (and only one of them has been a heirloom quality keris). I have "slept" with each keris that I own (except this one, I will when it is restored)... maybe... just maybe, the experiences we have all had would make an interesting thread in itself? Especially if someone knowledgeable can interpret or "explain" some of the experiences that we have had (I would like to know more about the meaning of some of mine).

nechesh · 14th April 2005, 12:08 AM

Really no offense taken at all Wayne.

13th April 2005, 10:02 PM	#1
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Wayne, if you want to hear the keris speak, try putting it under your pillow at night. As i mentioned before, we have seen these composite sheath and hilts before and had a thread about them. I believe that originally they are being presented with newly made keris as tourist items. I don't believe the original intention of this dress was to deceive or hold your 19thC blade. The ones i have seen previously were also Sumatran dress and it may very well be a Sumatran product. Of course, the Chinese are very good at using this composite stuff and the work might be imported for an Indonesian market. It seems neither ironic nor by chance that someone would place an old Sumatran blade in this dress if their intention was to fool an unwary buyer. As for the "good blade"/"bad blade" issue, i couldn't agree with you more. Very few of us have either the money or opportunity to collect really high end pieces. And while the keris culture was certainly dictated from the top of the hierachal food chain (i.e.the kraton) it certain permeated the entire culture, from the poorest farmer to the highest courtesan. All keris are worthy in my book, even the simplest of village pieces.They are all cultural artifacts with a history and a story. Of course, that doesn't mean i don't try to collect well made keris, but if a piece appeals to me the quality might at times be secondary.

13th April 2005, 11:18 PM	#2
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	Hi nechesh, I hope what I said was not offensive (my apologies)... I did not mean to question you. And my second two paragraphs were not intended to be directed toward you. Sometimes I ramble on too much. I am only curious about the origin of these keris, (my first thought was that they may be coming from China or else were too). It will be interesting to see what, and how many of these plastic pieces "crop" up. I fully agree with you nechesh. I collect those keris that "sing" or "speak" to me in some deep and meaningful way (and only one of them has been a heirloom quality keris). I have "slept" with each keris that I own (except this one, I will when it is restored)... maybe... just maybe, the experiences we have all had would make an interesting thread in itself? Especially if someone knowledgeable can interpret or "explain" some of the experiences that we have had (I would like to know more about the meaning of some of mine).

14th April 2005, 12:08 AM	#3
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Really no offense taken at all Wayne.