Newly-made Minangkabau Keris Naga

[Rick]

For what it's worth, and only my point of view:

Garish is a word I might use to describe this end product.
For me his effort begs the question; who designates what is the proper form of a traditional Keris?

Should this be considered a product of the keris culture as is known at present?
If it is:
Where are the parameters?
Where do we go from here?
Have we discarded the Kraton dapurs' guidance for bling?
When this happens are we, in fact, cheapening the end product culturally and spiritually?

I have always equated the form of a Keris with Haiku; there are rules; if you don't meet them in the composition; then it is not Haiku.

I evaluate the keris's I see within the same type of parameters.

I feel that the new improvisations we see too often these days are not really improvements; rather they are distractions from the ideal.

In essence:
What actually constitutes a proper keris?

[A. G. Maisey]

Rick, something like 35 years ago there was an exhibition in Solo of the work of the new keris making generation, who were known as the Anak-Anak ASKI.

The work on display was beautifully sculpted, it was immaculate in its execution. Superb garap.

A very famous keris connoisseur was attending this exhibition in the same group of people that I was with. His name was Goh Tik Swan aka Harjonegoro.

His comment was:- "Well, this is certainly art, but are these things keris?"

[alexish]

Dear collectors,

Thanks for all your comments. Here are more detailed pictures of the keris hulu after staining. I also enclose pictures of the original antique ivory hulu that inspired this newly-made piece.

[alexish]

Here is how the warangka looks after staining. Compare with the original antique warangkas that inspired this newly-made piece.

[Sajen]

Here a comparison from the newly made keris with the old/antique one which was shown in a previous thread.

[Sajen]

Agree with Gustav, the smith is improving. But when I would have the choice I would take the antique example.

And can we call the new example a Minang keris? I think not. It's still a Madura blade to copy a Minang blade IMVHO.
Not my cup of tea neither.

[alexish]

In fact, I modelled my newly-made keris more closely to Jean's Minangkabau Naga Keris, as shown in the attached picture.

Actually, I deliberately asked the keris-maker to omit the Naga tail, and put a sogokan instead, as I felt that a sogokan would flow better with the malela-style fullers and the pamor Lawe Satukel. In fact, I see the pamor Lawe Satukel as a replacement for the Naga tail.