Keris of Hamengkubuwana VII

[A. G. Maisey]

From time to time discussion has occurred in this forum that centers around royal keris.

It seems to be a generally held idea that because a keris is a "Royal Keris", or obtained by purchase through the back gate of a kraton, that such a keris must be some sort of exceptionally valuable piece of tosan aji.

Well, it ain't necessarily so.

Similarly, keris from the late colonial period can be very easy to confuse with keris made in the current era.

Back in the 1980's I visited store rooms that held keris and other Kraton Surakarta property. I have examined keris belonging to princes and other high ranking Surakarta noblemen. Not all "Royal Keris" are particularly wonderful.

Here is an absolutely terrible photograph of a keris on display in the Museum Sonobudaya in Jogjakarta, Jawa Tengah, the caption tells us what it is. In spite of the fact that this photo was taken under conditions resembling the bottom of a coal mine at midnight, through filthy, dusty glass, and without flash, I think that most people should be able to form an opinion of the origin of this Royal Keris.

Sultan Hamengkubuwana reined from 22 December 1877 to 29 January 1921.

Not everything is quite what many people may take it to be.