YOGYA knife rests

[historydetective]

Two matching Yogya knife rests, 42.7 grams total, 3 inches long each, maker mark "TS" - I would like to know the identity and working dates of the maker so as to have any idea of the age of the knife rests, though I realize that all Yogya silver is 20th century. Thanks in advance!

[dognose]

Hi Historydetective,

Tjokro Soeroso would appear to be the likely maker of these knife rests. Tjokro Soeroso died around 1970, so the likely date of manufacture would be somewhere between the 40 year period of 1930-1970.

http://www.925-1000.com/a_yogya.html

Trev.

[dognose]

R.S. Tjokrosoeroso was from Yogyakarta, he was first Indonesian to showcase Yogya silverwork in the States, having an exhibition that ran for 14 months in San Francisco, in 1938. He was married to Sumiyati Soenandar, and their daughter is Sotjawaruni Kumala Palar, more well known as the jewellery designer Runi Palar. If you google Runi Palar, there are pages of information regarding her work, but scant information on her father.

Trev.

[historydetective]

Trev., thank you for that wonderful information. You've enhanced my enjoyment of these beautiful knife rests. I think this motif that is featured in so many Yogya pieces is particularly suited to serve as the endpiece of these knife rests, so knife rests are a particularly aesthetically pleasing form in Yogya silver. Is R. S. Tjokrosoeroso mentioned in the book, Yogya Silver: Renewal of a Javanese Handicraft, by Pienke W. H. Kal? I'd been trying to locate a copy of that book.

[dognose]

Hi Historydetective,

I haven't read that book, but you could try and obtain a copy via an inter library loan (I'm presuming that such a system is available in your location).

I note the the Chicago Public Library has a copy, see: http://www.chipublib.org/search/details/cn/2162798

Regards, Trev.