Solo Keris

Mudi · 30th July 2006, 05:06 AM

I am sorry for confusion. My comment was only for keris in post 1 made by drdavid. Title of his post was Solo Keris. How can Solo keris have only handle in Solo style blade from Madura and pendok from Bali? Alam I did not look at your keris and my comment only about keris with picture in post.

I did not say about this keris being unworthy or rubbish as you say. I only say about what I see. I am sorry to make mad anyone about my comment.

Mr. Rick there has been no resurgence or to revive keris making. Empu still make keris in Indonesia. Most new keris from Madura not Empu made.

I am very busy at new school so no time to make photo of Bugis keris. When I have got the time I will post some. Already I post one from my father. Maybe you not see this one already?

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...KerisBugis.jpg

drdavid · 30th July 2006, 05:24 AM

Mudi, I see where I have confused things. The title should perhaps have been something less definite than that I used. The blade is indeed from Madura, however I believe the pendok is from Java not Bali.
cheers
DrD

Rick · 30th July 2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdavid

Mudi, I see where I have confused things. The title should perhaps have been something less definite than that I used. The blade is indeed from Madura, however I believe the pendok is from Java not Bali.
cheers
DrD

David , Alam Shah ,
Now I feel obligated to show my pamor Kelengan

Please forgive the softness of the image .

drdavid · 30th July 2006, 10:40 PM

Very nice Rick, the pendok is an interesting design and the gambar especially good. The blade looks very elegant.
DrD

Alam Shah · 30th July 2006, 11:48 PM

Rick, your keris, the piece that I almost got...

Elegant lovely blade. The wrangka's wood is fabulous. Thanks for sharing...
What type of wood is it, Rick?

A. G. Maisey · 31st July 2006, 12:37 AM

Pak Mudi, of course you are correct about this blade in Dr. David`s post, it is a Madura blade, but as I am sure a man with your great knowledge of keris would be aware, a complete keris is classified according to the wrongko and handle, not according to the blade. Thus, one could have, say, a Jogja keris that had a Bugis blade, or a Surakarta keris that had a Bali blade. I have not infrequently encountered exactly these combinations in old keris.

Now, as for Dr. David`s keris, although the blade was made in Madura, it has been made to a Surakarta Kraton pattern. In fact, the people who currently make keris blades in Suminep kabupaten are the descendants of people who have produced keris in the same area for very many generations, some say back to the time of the Majapahit kingdom, and who used to export these blades to markets all over Jawa.

Regarding the dress of Dr. David`s keris, the wrongko was made by a man who is widely regarded as perhaps the most talented tukang wrongko in Surakarta today, and the ukiran was made by a tukang jejeran who retired from taking orders more than 15 years ago, but who still produces a very small quantity of ukiran every year.

The pendok is from Imogiri, not Bali.

I have some difficulty in understanding exactly why you expressed your sorrow in respect of Dr. David`s keris. It is a fine example of recent production, and I feel that to obtain a piece of similar quality might not be particularly easy. Certainly it would not be possible to obtain a wrongko from the same maker, as his work is under contract, and the wood that has been used in this wrongko is perhaps the last of its type available in Jawa.

Perhaps, Pak Mudi, you would be so kind as to name the empus who still work in Indonesia?

My own teacher , Empu Suparman Supowijaya, left this world in July 1995.

My very good friend Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo retired several years ago.

Empu Djeno Harumbrojo recently passed away.

Empu Mangku Wije at Kusamba was already an elderly man when I met him 20 years ago, and had never made more than a very few keris at that time.In fact, I do not know if Empu Mangku Wije is even still with us.

To my knowledge these are possibly the only men in the current era who have been entitled to use the title "empu", and Pauzan Pusposukadgo himself refrained from applying the title to himself, although everybody else did, because of his religious beliefs.

Please share your knowledge with us, and name the empus who are still practicing.

Thank you for your consideration.

Andrew · 31st July 2006, 02:44 AM

Alan, please forgive my ignorance but, as you know, I'm a complete keris amatuer.

Why is it that so few Empu exist today?

BluErf · 30th July 2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudi

When I have got the time I will post some. Already I post one from my father. Maybe you not see this one already?

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...KerisBugis.jpg

Hi Mudi,

The blade is Sulawesi, but the sheath and hilt looks recent, and made-in-Bali.

Do you know Majabali?

Rick · 30th July 2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudi

Mr. Rick there has been no resurgence or to revive keris making. Empu still make keris in Indonesia. Most new keris from Madura not Empu made.

Ahh I had absolutely no idea there was a whole new crop of Empus in (your?) country; has this happened overnight ?

So in your view any keris *not* made by an 'Empu' is not a 'real' keris ?

There are some very talented Pandai Keris and they do make some very lovely work such as drdavid's keris; many of them are from Madura and the last time I checked Madura was part of Indonesia . I'm sure there are many fine keris made in Jawa also but most of them are not made by 'Empus' .

I suppose he could have titled his post "Solo Style Keris With Maduran Blade and Parts From Other Areas of Indonesia " but I don't think it would have fit in the title window .

30th July 2006, 05:06 AM	#1
Mudi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Makassar, (Ujung Pandang), Sulawesi, Indonesia Posts: 38	I am sorry for confusion. My comment was only for keris in post 1 made by drdavid. Title of his post was Solo Keris. How can Solo keris have only handle in Solo style blade from Madura and pendok from Bali? Alam I did not look at your keris and my comment only about keris with picture in post. I did not say about this keris being unworthy or rubbish as you say. I only say about what I see. I am sorry to make mad anyone about my comment. Mr. Rick there has been no resurgence or to revive keris making. Empu still make keris in Indonesia. Most new keris from Madura not Empu made. I am very busy at new school so no time to make photo of Bugis keris. When I have got the time I will post some. Already I post one from my father. Maybe you not see this one already? http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...KerisBugis.jpg Last edited by Mudi; 30th July 2006 at 05:21 AM. Reason: mispell

30th July 2006, 05:24 AM	#2
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 369	my mistake Mudi, I see where I have confused things. The title should perhaps have been something less definite than that I used. The blade is indeed from Madura, however I believe the pendok is from Java not Bali. cheers DrD

30th July 2006, 11:48 PM	#5
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Rick, your keris, the piece that I almost got... Elegant lovely blade. The wrangka's wood is fabulous. Thanks for sharing... What type of wood is it, Rick? Last edited by Alam Shah; 31st July 2006 at 03:02 AM. Reason: add question...

30th July 2006, 10:40 PM	#4
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 369	Very nice Rick, the pendok is an interesting design and the gambar especially good. The blade looks very elegant. DrD

31st July 2006, 12:37 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,742	Pak Mudi, of course you are correct about this blade in Dr. David`s post, it is a Madura blade, but as I am sure a man with your great knowledge of keris would be aware, a complete keris is classified according to the wrongko and handle, not according to the blade. Thus, one could have, say, a Jogja keris that had a Bugis blade, or a Surakarta keris that had a Bali blade. I have not infrequently encountered exactly these combinations in old keris. Now, as for Dr. David`s keris, although the blade was made in Madura, it has been made to a Surakarta Kraton pattern. In fact, the people who currently make keris blades in Suminep kabupaten are the descendants of people who have produced keris in the same area for very many generations, some say back to the time of the Majapahit kingdom, and who used to export these blades to markets all over Jawa. Regarding the dress of Dr. David`s keris, the wrongko was made by a man who is widely regarded as perhaps the most talented tukang wrongko in Surakarta today, and the ukiran was made by a tukang jejeran who retired from taking orders more than 15 years ago, but who still produces a very small quantity of ukiran every year. The pendok is from Imogiri, not Bali. I have some difficulty in understanding exactly why you expressed your sorrow in respect of Dr. David`s keris. It is a fine example of recent production, and I feel that to obtain a piece of similar quality might not be particularly easy. Certainly it would not be possible to obtain a wrongko from the same maker, as his work is under contract, and the wood that has been used in this wrongko is perhaps the last of its type available in Jawa. Perhaps, Pak Mudi, you would be so kind as to name the empus who still work in Indonesia? My own teacher , Empu Suparman Supowijaya, left this world in July 1995. My very good friend Empu Pauzan Pusposukadgo retired several years ago. Empu Djeno Harumbrojo recently passed away. Empu Mangku Wije at Kusamba was already an elderly man when I met him 20 years ago, and had never made more than a very few keris at that time.In fact, I do not know if Empu Mangku Wije is even still with us. To my knowledge these are possibly the only men in the current era who have been entitled to use the title "empu", and Pauzan Pusposukadgo himself refrained from applying the title to himself, although everybody else did, because of his religious beliefs. Please share your knowledge with us, and name the empus who are still practicing. Thank you for your consideration.

31st July 2006, 02:44 AM	#7
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Alan, please forgive my ignorance but, as you know, I'm a complete keris amatuer. Why is it that so few Empu exist today?