SUMATRA TAPAK KUDA HILT FORMS
 

I SELDOM POST HERE BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEGE OF THE KERIS COMPARED TO MANY OTHERS. I DO HAVE A LOT OF PICTURES OF STRANGE AND UNUSUAL KERIS AND HANDLES SO THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE A FEW. I THOUGHT I WOULD DEVOTE THIS POST TO HANDLES ONLY FROM SUMATRA.
THESE TWO WERE IDENTIFIED AS "TAPAK KUDA" (HORSE FOOT) FROM SUMATRA. ITS HARD TO TELL FROM THE PICTURES BUT THEY APPEAR TO BE MADE OF HORN :confused: . I HOPE I DO NOT POST PICTURES OF KERIS ALREADY POSTED ON THIS FORUM OR COVER GROUND THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN TROD. COMMENTS WELCOME AND FEEL FREE TO ADD PICTURES OF EXAMPLES ,ENJOY :)

Hello Vandoo,

nice handles. Most of the time they are mounted on keris panjang. Here two from my collection, both are from horn.

Regards,

Detlef

Great idea for an interesting reference thread.
But maybe we should limit it to only tapak kuda?
Here are mine.

Michael

warangka and hilt from horn.

The limit to tapak kuda is a very good idea.
BTW, the first four handles from you are very nice! :) Ups, now the order is different at soon! I mean the carved ones.

Regards,

Detlef

Though these hilts are called tapak kuda in many parts of the keris world, the ultimate representation is probably a man with his head bowed. Some examples are clearer than others.

The top hilt, tapak kuda with makara form???? I think its unique....

Interesting observation. Yes, I see it especially in this example you referred to.

Michael's last panjang is a N. Malay panjang with a nice hilt. I have a similar one.

Something diffrent, but stil Sumatra panjang,
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2329/img1079kt.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xf_OlM8P4GA/SJ...nka-ukiran.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xf_OlM8P4GA/SJ...nka-ukiran.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xf_OlM8P4GA/SJ...nka-ukiran.JPG

These last offerings are not tapak kuda form... :confused:

Thanks Kai Wee, that is very nice. Should come and 'audit' your private arsenal some day :D

The first pic posted by kulbuntet s totally of different form. It's not the typical tapak kuda form, probably this form is from Indragiri Riau?

Yep, but are Sumatran, so on topic..:P

Read post #3! :)

Best regards,

Detlef

Actually Kulbuntet, i believe that if you read the beginning posts it was decided early on to dedicate this thread to the Tapak Kuda form, so stick your tongue back in your mouth son... ;) :)

NT

After the audit, do I have to file 'tax returns'? ;p

Rick's example - I have a similar one too. It's on a panjang which is probably from the more Northern areas of Sumatra. However, it is so simple that I'm not sure if it could be a generic form and not attributable to any region in Sumatra.

Nice hilts!

The last ones seems to be related to my green hilt, the one Detlef didn't like ;)
I agree with Kai Wee that it looks like a hidden man.

Michael

:D :D I am sure you understand me correct! ;)

ARE THE MORE ORNATELY CARVED KERIS HANDLES IN THIS FORM USUALLY FOUND ON WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS EXECUTIONERS KERIS?? MOST I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN HAVE BEEN ON THE EXECUTIONERS KERIS. IS THE LONG EXECUTIONERS FORM OF KERIS MORE COMMON IN SUMATRA THAN IN OTHER PLACES OR IS THE FORM WIDESPREAD.??

I must say that i'm not particularly fond of the term "executioners" keris because it's pretty misrepresentative of the form. Not the keris panjang were never used in executions, but i do not believe it is the purpose of the form.

I think the long form of the hilt for keris panjang is a matter of aesthetic balance. Given the long batang, it needs to be balanced by a tall hilt. Also, many keris panjang have long peksi, so you'd need a tall hilt to accommodate that.


Hi Michael,

What green hilt? I don't see any green hilt in this post. :)

Some more examples of tapak kuda hilts.
All horn, except one in (I suppose) marine ivory.

WITH MY LACK OF KNOWLEGE IN KERIS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM SUMATRA I STARTED THE POST TO INCLUDE ALL FORMS FROM SUMATRA.
THOSE WITH MORE KNOWLEGE SUGGESTED RESTRICTING IT TO THIS ONE FORM. I AGREED WITH THIS AS THE POST MAY HAVE BECOME TOO CUMBERSOME IF EVERYTHING WAS INCLUDED. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE LARGE VARITY WITHIN THE FORM.
SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF EASY REFRENCE LISTING DIFFERENT FORMS SEPARATELY WOULD MAKE THEM MORE EASILY ACCESABLE AS WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THRU EVERYTHING TO FIND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
SO I HAVE CHANGED THIS POSTS TITLE TO AVOID CONFUSION AND FOCUS ONLY ON THIS FORM. SO A SEARCH FOR TAPAK KUDA SHOULD BRING THIS INFORMATION UP. I AT LEAST HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS POST AS WELL AS THE POST ON BIRD FORMS SO KEEP EXAMPLES OF THIS FORM COMING :D .
PERHAPS SOMEONE CAN START A POST ON SOME OTHER SUMATRA FORM AND AFTER WE COVER SUMATRA PERHAPS WE CAN MOVE ON TO JAVA, BALI AND MALAYSIA. :)

Hi Barry,

interesting target but very big projekt! :) ;)

Maybe at weekend I start with jawa deman hilts from Sumatra.

Regards,

Detlef