OUR HISTORY
For an ordinary people, it is hard to understand a “collector’s” way of thinking, but if we use word “hobby” then it is much simpler to understand. Most people have their own “hobbies”, and people will feel certain connections when they share the same hobby.
At the age of 40, I did not have any particular interest in specific article, it was time where most people “work and work” and take care of their own family, their children mostly.
It was at 42 years old when I was first attracted in a particular article, and it was a Kris, a Javanese Keris. Being born at Jogjakarta, the heart of Javanese Culture, I have known keris as an Javanese heritage, and that is it, no more no less.
A sudden change happened when one of my colleagues showed me several kerises at my office, after he bought those items. I was curious and attracted and began to learn more about Javanese keris and asked my colleague to introduce me to the seller. Since then I have been a collector of Javanese keris for about 10 years. Not just Javanese keris but also keris from all area of Indonesia: Sumatra keris, Balinese keris, Malayan keris, Sundanese keris. Beyond that, I also began collecting Javanese spears, Javanese swords and all “Tosan Aji” or “noble metal”. Admiring how difficult to make one good keris, the shape (dhapur), the damask picture (pamor) and the era associated with the kingdom when it was made, are three aspects that make keris worth more and make me respect the maker (Empu) even more.