Featured Kool stuff of all kinds, where’s AJ?

AJ, look at few lots #1398+. They might go cheap who knows, register for phone bidding.


https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001qIJ...kMNTYon72gXHpDOgp9KQXnwTu176o74B-W5J2BQWypA==

 

Spring, thanks for thinking of me, but the link doesn't work. Maybe because I am in Europe?
What does it show?

 

My photo system misbehaving or I’d post pix of 3 elaborately-carved Indonesian knife handles-look to be soapstone or similar. Thomaston Auction Galleries, maybe u can find another way or someone else can help pending me solving my ‘puter issue.

 

Does this one work, AJ?

https://live.thomastonauction.com

 

Ah, forget that, @Any Jewelry

 

That is a very odd looking URL, spring

 

Hmmm, well it works for me every time. ??

 

Here are the three handles (3 separate lots)

 

Thx M.O.S., what I tried to do. IOS made another dreaded “update” before testing it well enuf.

 

Thanks guys!
Lots 1399 and 1400 are excellent quality keris hilts, but the starting bids are way above my budget. The Balinese one is of lesser quality, and I don't understand why the starting bid is higher than that of the very rare Palembang hilt, lot 1400.

Keris and keris parts prices are much higher on the international market than here in the Netherlands. There are still quite a few unwanted keris in Dutch Indonesian families. Some people think they have are connected with black magic. Their loss, my gain.

 

Don’t confuse estimate with starting bid, I didn’t pay much attention but in the US, catalogs almost always list estimates and if the consignor hasn’t placed a reserve figure on it, the auctioneer will do what he needs to do to get bidding started. I bid on the phone often and win sometimes.

 

Cute! Need deep pockets though

 

No, I was looking at the starting bid.
US collectors are willing to pay much more than we stingy Dutch are. I have seen similar hilts to the Balinese painted one for sale here for 40 euro.
I wouldn't pay over 125 euro for the Palembang one, so I don't think I'll even try, with the US collectors outbidding each other. Even here that one could go for more, and it is worth it, it has a real wow-factor.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed seeing the two excellent Sumatran hilts, so thank you for thinking of me.
It is also an eye-opener that a Palembang carver carved the arms and legs 'open' like that and with so much fine scrollwork. I suspect it may have been by a carver from north Java or Madura, where that kind of work is seen a lot. Carvers and keris smiths did travel.