Restored Tajong

VVV · 10th June 2011, 09:38 PM

Here is my latest restoring project - the hilt I found in UK 6 years ago, the sheath and blade in US 3 years ago and 2 weeks ago a goldsmith friend of mine finished the missing suassa details.

Michael

asomotif · 10th June 2011, 10:57 PM

Nice work

Did he make the suasa himself ?

Best regards,
Willem

BluErf · 11th June 2011, 02:18 AM

Nice restoration, Michael. It was a long journey indeed! The swasa wrapping around the bottom of the buah pinang would look more appropriate if it was about half its height.

Beautiful blade btw.

BluErf · 11th June 2011, 02:19 AM

I like the understated elegance of the early-mid period hilt too. V nice catch!

Battara · 11th June 2011, 03:43 AM

Nice restoration! I do love suassa!

Marcokeris · 11th June 2011, 08:37 AM

Amazing

VVV · 11th June 2011, 08:43 AM

Thanks all,

Yes, he made the suassa himself after a receipe I gave him. But he told me that he sometimes used similar alloys himself because it's more durable than gold but didn't know that it had a name.
Kai Wee, the reason it's so high is that we had to restore the buah pinang.
Here is the old version of the hilt as I found it.

Michael

David · 11th June 2011, 06:48 PM

I am curious now that i see the hilt in original condition. Is it likely that the hilt originally had similar suassa decoration and if not would this be more correctly considered a "upgrade" rather than a "restoration"?
Very nice indeed either way...

VVV · 11th June 2011, 07:03 PM

David,

You can see that the parts were the suassa is now had another colour/patination than the rest of the hilt in the old version. That's a sign of that there once had been something else on top of it. If it was originally suassa or silver however is impossible to say.

Michael

BluErf · 12th June 2011, 01:26 AM

The lighter coloured parts most likely indicated the presence of old silver/swasa decorations. However, the seemingly lack of pegging holes suggest that the decorations were added during a period when adhesives were available, and swasa nail pegs were not used. Still, it was an old "upgrade", and Michael restored that.

Battara · 12th June 2011, 03:33 AM

How do the mounts stay on - glue?

VVV · 12th June 2011, 10:04 AM

Yes, he used some kind of special glue for gold alloys.

Michael

Tok Janggut · 1st July 2011, 11:47 AM

great tajong. i like the overall look of this keris.

10th June 2011, 09:38 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Restored Tajong Here is my latest restoring project - the hilt I found in UK 6 years ago, the sheath and blade in US 3 years ago and 2 weeks ago a goldsmith friend of mine finished the missing suassa details. Michael Attached Images

11th June 2011, 08:43 AM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks all, Yes, he made the suassa himself after a receipe I gave him. But he told me that he sometimes used similar alloys himself because it's more durable than gold but didn't know that it had a name. Kai Wee, the reason it's so high is that we had to restore the buah pinang. Here is the old version of the hilt as I found it. Michael Attached Images

10th June 2011, 10:57 PM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Nice work Did he make the suasa himself ? Best regards, Willem

11th June 2011, 02:18 AM	#3
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Nice restoration, Michael. It was a long journey indeed! The swasa wrapping around the bottom of the buah pinang would look more appropriate if it was about half its height. Beautiful blade btw.

11th June 2011, 02:19 AM	#4
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	I like the understated elegance of the early-mid period hilt too. V nice catch!

11th June 2011, 03:43 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Nice restoration! I do love suassa!

11th June 2011, 08:37 AM	#6
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Amazing

11th June 2011, 06:48 PM	#8
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	I am curious now that i see the hilt in original condition. Is it likely that the hilt originally had similar suassa decoration and if not would this be more correctly considered a "upgrade" rather than a "restoration"? Very nice indeed either way...

11th June 2011, 07:03 PM	#9
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	David, You can see that the parts were the suassa is now had another colour/patination than the rest of the hilt in the old version. That's a sign of that there once had been something else on top of it. If it was originally suassa or silver however is impossible to say. Michael

12th June 2011, 01:26 AM	#10
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The lighter coloured parts most likely indicated the presence of old silver/swasa decorations. However, the seemingly lack of pegging holes suggest that the decorations were added during a period when adhesives were available, and swasa nail pegs were not used. Still, it was an old "upgrade", and Michael restored that.

12th June 2011, 03:33 AM	#11
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	How do the mounts stay on - glue?

12th June 2011, 10:04 AM	#12
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Yes, he used some kind of special glue for gold alloys. Michael

1st July 2011, 11:47 AM	#13
Tok Janggut Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 11	great tajong. i like the overall look of this keris.