Thoughts on kris / keris?

So much to learn... what an education I get around here!

 

Pottery, I checked the only photograph of a nail keris I have, yours is not a nail keris. But the aspects it does have, make it interesting enough as it is.

 

Ok--thank you for checking.

It's going to be a part of my permanent collection of interesting objects.

 

I'm sure it will be in fitting surroundings. Rembrandt also had such a collection, so you are in good company. He also had at least one keris, a Banten keris from West Java. It features in several of his works.

The master himself as "Oriental King", with Banten keris:

 

Wow. Rembrandt!

Interesting Dutch connection.

 

I've never seen that self-portrait before! Thank you.

 

Pottery, I'm not up to explaining the keris treatment yet. It is quite simple, but my brain is even more simple at the moment.

While you are waiting, another Rembrandt keris Banten. Samson and Delilah:



Detail:



The keris type is special, and now extremely rare. But I also like the way most of the painting is Impressionist avant la lettre, but the protagonist, Samson, is painted in detail, as is Delilah's knee. It creates beautiful depth.
And I think that is the master himself (with Spanish helmet) peeping out from behind the curtain.

 

No pressure of course-- you're always so generous.

There really is such depth and richness and narrative to that painting!

 

All of Rembrandt's art is like that. The Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg, Russia has a large collection of Rembrandt's paintings. I was fortunate to be able to visit there in 2005. The whole museum was excellent, but Rembrandt's art still stands out the most in my memory.