Keris Tajong for comments

Athanase · 5th February 2021, 02:23 PM

S**t I again inverted the terms Tajong and Coteng.

I have a Tajong type handle (recent) and indeed it is much more massive and decorated.

You're right Kai, the base of the handle is made from a different piece of wood. The separation is under the triangle frieze and we see that the lower part is less well sculpted than the upper part. This would explain the very rudimentary tin selut, the lower part would have been repaired locally by someone not specialized in wood and metalworking.

Thank you for your comments, it confirms what I thought, especially on the blade which seems to me not to be from the Malaysian peninsula.

Sajen · 5th February 2021, 03:13 PM

Hello Séverin,

Agree with Kai, it's a coteng! Very good find! The scabbard is typical Coteng form and undamaged, and the hilt can get restored with some skill and I agree again with Kai that this is most probably a former local repair, look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=tajong
When you compare with pictures from Conteng hilts it will be possible to carve a fitting nose for the hilt.
The blade looks Javanese or possibly Sumatra to my eyes, difficult to say because it's a very worn blade, also not unusual for a Coteng, the blade could come from everywhere. The gonjo seems also to be a replacement.
The base of the hilt is repaired, I wouldn't change that. I just would give the hilt a new nose and would clean the blade in a vinegar solution, the varnish I would try to remove, and you will have a very nice Coteng keris!

Regards,
Detlef

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5th February 2021, 02:23 PM	#1
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 422	S**t I again inverted the terms Tajong and Coteng. I have a Tajong type handle (recent) and indeed it is much more massive and decorated. You're right Kai, the base of the handle is made from a different piece of wood. The separation is under the triangle frieze and we see that the lower part is less well sculpted than the upper part. This would explain the very rudimentary tin selut, the lower part would have been repaired locally by someone not specialized in wood and metalworking. Thank you for your comments, it confirms what I thought, especially on the blade which seems to me not to be from the Malaysian peninsula.

5th February 2021, 03:13 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,394	Hello Séverin, Agree with Kai, it's a coteng! Very good find! The scabbard is typical Coteng form and undamaged, and the hilt can get restored with some skill and I agree again with Kai that this is most probably a former local repair, look here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=tajong When you compare with pictures from Conteng hilts it will be possible to carve a fitting nose for the hilt. The blade looks Javanese or possibly Sumatra to my eyes, difficult to say because it's a very worn blade, also not unusual for a Coteng, the blade could come from everywhere. The gonjo seems also to be a replacement. The base of the hilt is repaired, I wouldn't change that. I just would give the hilt a new nose and would clean the blade in a vinegar solution, the varnish I would try to remove, and you will have a very nice Coteng keris! Regards, Detlef