Modern keris bethok - Page 2

David · 29th August 2023, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagabuwana

Just a better-than-average day combing the banks of the ole Musi river, David!

LOL!!!

A. G. Maisey · 29th August 2023, 10:24 PM

Yeah, these "river finds" are a bit of joke, but if enough people believe just about anything, well, that thing they believe in becomes true.

Culturally I think the significance is helping a few people to stay alive a bit longer, not all that easy to earn enough to keep body & soul together in some places.

But on the subject of shonkdonkery in Indonesia, it is enough to say that if something can be faked, that can be done in Indonesia.

This link has nothing at all to do with keris, but it is only a short article & it is worth reading through.

http://www.ming-wrecks.com/Fakes.html

I have known several people, not Indonesians, but living in Central Jawa, who lived very comfortably for many years by sending Indonesian faked items --- mostly porcelain, & often with barnacles attached --- to auction rooms & dealers all over the world.

milandro · 30th August 2023, 12:23 PM

whilst researching the Keris which are made to be sort of looking old (mostly ridiculously so). I came across a site which was writing a long story on how people should be careful with purchasing krises that are made to be look antique . The same site had a shop on line where there were several obviously " antiqued" bethoks. Not only but prices were exorbitant too

29th August 2023, 10:24 PM	#32
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,700	Yeah, these "river finds" are a bit of joke, but if enough people believe just about anything, well, that thing they believe in becomes true. Culturally I think the significance is helping a few people to stay alive a bit longer, not all that easy to earn enough to keep body & soul together in some places. But on the subject of shonkdonkery in Indonesia, it is enough to say that if something can be faked, that can be done in Indonesia. This link has nothing at all to do with keris, but it is only a short article & it is worth reading through. http://www.ming-wrecks.com/Fakes.html I have known several people, not Indonesians, but living in Central Jawa, who lived very comfortably for many years by sending Indonesian faked items --- mostly porcelain, & often with barnacles attached --- to auction rooms & dealers all over the world.

30th August 2023, 12:23 PM	#33
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 419	whilst researching the Keris which are made to be sort of looking old (mostly ridiculously so). I came across a site which was writing a long story on how people should be careful with purchasing krises that are made to be look antique . The same site had a shop on line where there were several obviously " antiqued" bethoks. Not only but prices were exorbitant too