Java Keris insights please

[Gavin Nugent]

Attached is one of the few Java Keris or Keris blades I have retained over the years as it appeals to my eye and tastes in a Keris.

Given that I am not learned in the art of Java Keris, I am hoping members could share their insights about the blade.

Like clouds, you can stare and see things all day... I see a stylised Wayang face within.


With thanks

Gavin

[Gustav]

A good blade, Gavin!

My immediate thoughts on it are -

quite nicely sculpted, the obvious shortcoming is the "broken" continuation of Tampingan on Gonjo - the Tampingan on Jogja blades of this age is mostly very slightly curved, this one looks stiff;

Sogokan on the big side for a Jogja blade, Sogokan Wingking seems to be a tiny bit wider;

the Kembang Kacang Pogok is on the small side for me and could point a little bit more up - but this is my personal preference. Also Condong Leleh is for me a bit too slanted. But such simply is the character of this particular Keris;

Pamor control is not very good, and I feel, the smith would have had difficulties to make Gonjo with the same Pamor.

But overall this Keris Dhapur Pasopati with intended or lost Kinatah Panji Pilis is one of the better Nom-Noman blades posted in this forum so far.

[Sajen]

Hello Gav,

Agree with Gustav, good blade! Gandik looks like made for kinatah, or it's lost??

Regards,
Detlef

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Gustav

A good blade, Gavin!

My immediate thoughts on it are -

quite nicely sculpted, the obvious shortcoming is the "broken" continuation of Tampingan on Gonjo - the Tampingan on Jogja blades of this age is mostly very slightly curved, this one looks stiff;

Sogokan on the big side for a Jogja blade, Sogokan Wingking seems to be a tiny bit wider;

the Kembang Kacang Pogok is on the small side for me and could point a little bit more up - but this is my personal preference. Also Condong Leleh is for me a bit too slanted. But such simply is the character of this particular Keris;

Pamor control is not very good, and I feel, the smith would have had difficulties to make Gonjo with the same Pamor.

But overall this Keris Dhapur Pasopati with intended or lost Kinatah Panji Pilis is one of the better Nom-Noman blades posted in this forum so far.

Thank you so very much Gustav, that has given me a LOT to look in to deeper... maybe someday 30 years from now I may have a better insight of standards.

Thank you too Detlef.

Regarding the Kembang Kacang Pogok. I understand the upturned type you refer to.

At first glance, aggressive was the word I used for this aspect of the blade. The why of this "aggressive" aspect I do not know, but there is within the photos, what looks to be an "eye" shape. Everything about the blade is to me of acute angles and excuse the pun, to the "point".

As I have said before, looking at Keris blades is sometimes like looking at clouds, you see what you want to see. I stylistically see the following, but I do not know if such things culturally were/are ever intended to be imbued in to blades.

Attached is a Wayang Shadow puppet from the British Museum Collection, being Arjuna Sasrabahu who is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The other a modern stylised version that on that angle, better presents the acute straight angle of the nose.
Visually ponderous to me… the nose, the curve in the blade aligned with the pony tail hair, and perhaps the pamor being like hair too.

Just random visualisations that likely don't mean anything to most, but I like to put these things out there as most think in a linear manner, where as I operate laterally.