Cleaning and polishing my bali-keris

njo kesasar · 21st January 2010, 12:28 PM

On july, 19th 2008 Semar posted a nice picture of his balikeris with Parasvati-hilt. In the replies various colors were mentioned of the
ivory: caramel and dark brown. Some months ago I've bought this bali patrem-keris and would very much like to know the following:

1 - on internet I found the following definition: QUOTE It is called patrem if the length of the keris, measured from the 'Ganja’ until the
point of the Keris, is as long as the length of one span of adult human footstep UNQUOTE. If this is the standard, which foot are we talking
about: my size 11 or anyone else's size? Can't find an inch- or cm-definition.

2 - Which person/god/demon is my hilt representing?

3 - Can't determine whether the hilt is ivory ore bone because of its color (and yes I did the needle test) and like to remove the brownish
color if that can be done at all.

4 - Like to clean/polish the pendok as well. Tried various methods (cloths, silverpolish as well as lemonjuice) but except for a very light
improvement it doesn't get me anywhere.

All your expertise will be very much appreciated, THANKS
Njo

David · 21st January 2010, 03:39 PM

Hmmm....i don't think your hilt is ivory, or very old for that matter. It might be bone, but it is hard to tell with all the gunk they painted onto it to give it the appearance of age. I generally clean up ivory and bone pieces with a toothbrush and a little bit of mineral oil, but since i don't know the natural of the applied black stuff i don't know what you might need to remove it.
I suspect that your blade is also contemporary and as such it's origins are more likely Madura than Bali, though this is still a "Bali-style" keris. As for whether it should be called a patrem or not, how long is the blade? I am not sure if there is any hard and fast rules for this, but i usually count blades under 10" as possible patrems.

njo kesasar · 21st January 2010, 03:57 PM

Hi David,
Thanks for your quick reply.
The blade is 9 inches long and yeah perhaps I've been mislead by the gemstones on mendak and pendok to call it Bali. As for the hilt I will give it a try. Nevertheless I hope to receive more suggestions to clean the hilt.
Thanks again,
Njo

asomotif · 21st January 2010, 07:34 PM

I Once cleaned a hilt made of antler with a toothbrush and toothpaste !
That really got it white and clean (Not a joke).
Event that clean that I applied some antiquewax again.

The toothpaste advise was something I once read for cleaning ray-skin sabre hilts.

For the pendok I would think that some brass polish would do fine, or maybe even to fine. Do you want it to shine ?

Sajen · 21st January 2010, 08:02 PM

Be carefull by cleaning the pendok because it is maybe thin gilded, try it with a toothbrush and a mild soap.

David · 21st January 2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

Be carefull by cleaning the pendok because it is maybe thin gilded, try it with a toothbrush and a mild soap.

It doesn't look gilded to me.

njo kesasar · 21st January 2010, 08:56 PM

Sajen
David
Perhaps some confusion occurred, it´s all my mistake: not being a professional photographer the pendok seems to be gilded but isn´t, it is silver(like)

sirek · 21st January 2010, 09:25 PM

about your question about the length of one span of adult human footstep

I found this on the net, you might find it useful.

njo kesasar · 22nd January 2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

I Once cleaned a hilt made of antler with a toothbrush and toothpaste !
That really got it white and clean (Not a joke).
Event that clean that I applied some antiquewax again.

The toothpaste advise was something I once read for cleaning ray-skin sabre hilts.

For the pendok I would think that some brass polish would do fine, or maybe even to fine. Do you want it to shine ?

Ehmmm.....yeah like it shining but I´m afraid the grooves can´t be reached that is, I don´t know how thin the silver(plate) is and don´t want to destroy the pendok. Will try the brasspolish. THKS

21st January 2010, 12:28 PM	#1
njo kesasar Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 17	Cleaning and polishing my bali-keris On july, 19th 2008 Semar posted a nice picture of his balikeris with Parasvati-hilt. In the replies various colors were mentioned of the ivory: caramel and dark brown. Some months ago I've bought this bali patrem-keris and would very much like to know the following: 1 - on internet I found the following definition: QUOTE It is called patrem if the length of the keris, measured from the 'Ganja’ until the point of the Keris, is as long as the length of one span of adult human footstep UNQUOTE. If this is the standard, which foot are we talking about: my size 11 or anyone else's size? Can't find an inch- or cm-definition. 2 - Which person/god/demon is my hilt representing? 3 - Can't determine whether the hilt is ivory ore bone because of its color (and yes I did the needle test) and like to remove the brownish color if that can be done at all. 4 - Like to clean/polish the pendok as well. Tried various methods (cloths, silverpolish as well as lemonjuice) but except for a very light improvement it doesn't get me anywhere. All your expertise will be very much appreciated, THANKS Njo Attached Images

21st January 2010, 03:57 PM	#3
njo kesasar Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 17	Patrem a.s.o. Hi David, Thanks for your quick reply. The blade is 9 inches long and yeah perhaps I've been mislead by the gemstones on mendak and pendok to call it Bali. As for the hilt I will give it a try. Nevertheless I hope to receive more suggestions to clean the hilt. Thanks again, Njo

21st January 2010, 09:25 PM	#8
sirek Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 165	about your question about the length of one span of adult human footstep I found this on the net, you might find it useful. Attached Images

21st January 2010, 03:39 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,025	Hmmm....i don't think your hilt is ivory, or very old for that matter. It might be bone, but it is hard to tell with all the gunk they painted onto it to give it the appearance of age. I generally clean up ivory and bone pieces with a toothbrush and a little bit of mineral oil, but since i don't know the natural of the applied black stuff i don't know what you might need to remove it. I suspect that your blade is also contemporary and as such it's origins are more likely Madura than Bali, though this is still a "Bali-style" keris. As for whether it should be called a patrem or not, how long is the blade? I am not sure if there is any hard and fast rules for this, but i usually count blades under 10" as possible patrems.

21st January 2010, 07:34 PM	#4
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,221	I Once cleaned a hilt made of antler with a toothbrush and toothpaste ! That really got it white and clean (Not a joke). Event that clean that I applied some antiquewax again. The toothpaste advise was something I once read for cleaning ray-skin sabre hilts. For the pendok I would think that some brass polish would do fine, or maybe even to fine. Do you want it to shine ?

21st January 2010, 08:02 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,491	Be carefull by cleaning the pendok because it is maybe thin gilded, try it with a toothbrush and a mild soap.

21st January 2010, 08:56 PM	#7
njo kesasar Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 17	Sajen David Perhaps some confusion occurred, it´s all my mistake: not being a professional photographer the pendok seems to be gilded but isn´t, it is silver(like)