Tajong-viewing plesure & comments.

BluErf · 29th August 2009, 05:32 PM

Here's a tajong hilt I've shared on a few occasions previously. I'm taking it out again as an example of what a properly finished tajong hilt look like. Notice how clean and sure the carvings are, and the consistent polish on the surface. This is the old (gold) standard for tajong hilts. Hope the new carvers can aspire to reach that standard.

The second pic depicts the proper proportions for a tajong keris. Pls ignore the Bugis style pendoko; it has since been replaced by a proper tajong pendoko.

mykeris · 30th August 2009, 04:20 AM

Thanks Bluerf, good explanation by the book and we should keep it for future reference. However, reading and viewing those photos alone, would not help to acquire 100 % understanding of what the book trying to say. I think, its good and more practical to observe how they are being made at sites and explained through keris workshops. Viewing your photos (it may be wrong because -not holding or seeing it for real) I still say that your hilt is under ''New Make' based on wood patina and refined material using modern tools. I have seen few of these materials in Patani and Kelantan, however, I could be wrong. Buying through runners or collectors are even worst still now a days. Their knives are even sharper than yours and mine! Another question, How would you authenticate an old carved tajong hilt as compared to new ones? Appreciate if you could post some existing samples for learning.

BluErf · 30th August 2009, 05:34 AM

Hi Mykeris, you are right that you cannot fully understand everything through pictures and forum discussions. However, that is the limitation we have on this forum. Not everyone can go to N. Malaysia/S. Thailand to see and handle these things.

I know what you mean about buying through runners, but I would say ultimately, it is how discerning we are in selecting the gems from the dross.

If you know whoever is making tajong of the quality I have posted, please let me know, I would like to buy more of them.

I don't have an issue with people using modern tools, but even with modern tools, can the carvers these days turn up hilts of such quality? Or the bigger question - do they want to spend the time?

The Spirit of Wood illustrates some of the best examples of very good old tajong hilts. I highly recommend everyone who has an interest in tajong to look at it. Look at it enough, and you shd be able to tell what makes a good old tajong, vs a new made rougher one. Again, I'm not discriminating against new work. If it is done meticulously, it is worthy of accolades. If it is done roughly, then, it is just another piece of commercial work.

What is defined as 'old'? I don't want to make any representations about how old my hilt is, and I have used the words "older", "newer", as a general separating descriptor for what is churned out in the present compared to those made carefully in the past, which could have been not too distant (e.g. pre-WWII?).

If you do know whoever can make hilts of this quality, let me know! Thanks in advance.

BluErf · 30th August 2009, 05:43 AM

Speaking of patina, I leave it to fellow forumnites to judge.

Michel · 30th August 2009, 03:55 PM

Hi Bluerf,
Folowing your information I turn to "Spirit of Wood" to try to identify the below shown Hulu. In spite of the many pictures and nice drawings, (what a marvelous book) I am not able to conclude that this Hulu is a Tajong, a Coteng, or a Bangsa Agung. For me it looks as a mixture but not a classical design in the Tagong family:
The sculpture is not as deep and sharp as the one you have shown and the polish not to the same level.
What is your opinion.
Regards
Michel

BluErf · 30th August 2009, 05:00 PM

Removed. See posting below.

BluErf · 30th August 2009, 06:05 PM

Hello Michel,

This hilt of yours, unfortunately, is an 'imitation' hilt made in Java/Madura. It is not from N. Malaya. Hence, you were not able to identify what it was. Java/Madura has been making 'imitations' of tajong and even the silver coteng hilts for quite some time. Some of them look proper from the side, but do not look correct from any other angles, because these people worked on photographs taken from the side angle only.

29th August 2009, 05:32 PM	#1
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Here's a tajong hilt I've shared on a few occasions previously. I'm taking it out again as an example of what a properly finished tajong hilt look like. Notice how clean and sure the carvings are, and the consistent polish on the surface. This is the old (gold) standard for tajong hilts. Hope the new carvers can aspire to reach that standard. The second pic depicts the proper proportions for a tajong keris. Pls ignore the Bugis style pendoko; it has since been replaced by a proper tajong pendoko. Attached Images

30th August 2009, 04:20 AM	#2
mykeris Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 278	Thanks Bluerf, good explanation by the book and we should keep it for future reference. However, reading and viewing those photos alone, would not help to acquire 100 % understanding of what the book trying to say. I think, its good and more practical to observe how they are being made at sites and explained through keris workshops. Viewing your photos (it may be wrong because -not holding or seeing it for real) I still say that your hilt is under ''New Make' based on wood patina and refined material using modern tools. I have seen few of these materials in Patani and Kelantan, however, I could be wrong. Buying through runners or collectors are even worst still now a days. Their knives are even sharper than yours and mine! Another question, How would you authenticate an old carved tajong hilt as compared to new ones? Appreciate if you could post some existing samples for learning. Last edited by mykeris; 30th August 2009 at 04:58 AM.

30th August 2009, 05:34 AM	#3
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Hi Mykeris, you are right that you cannot fully understand everything through pictures and forum discussions. However, that is the limitation we have on this forum. Not everyone can go to N. Malaysia/S. Thailand to see and handle these things. I know what you mean about buying through runners, but I would say ultimately, it is how discerning we are in selecting the gems from the dross. If you know whoever is making tajong of the quality I have posted, please let me know, I would like to buy more of them. I don't have an issue with people using modern tools, but even with modern tools, can the carvers these days turn up hilts of such quality? Or the bigger question - do they want to spend the time? The Spirit of Wood illustrates some of the best examples of very good old tajong hilts. I highly recommend everyone who has an interest in tajong to look at it. Look at it enough, and you shd be able to tell what makes a good old tajong, vs a new made rougher one. Again, I'm not discriminating against new work. If it is done meticulously, it is worthy of accolades. If it is done roughly, then, it is just another piece of commercial work. What is defined as 'old'? I don't want to make any representations about how old my hilt is, and I have used the words "older", "newer", as a general separating descriptor for what is churned out in the present compared to those made carefully in the past, which could have been not too distant (e.g. pre-WWII?). If you do know whoever can make hilts of this quality, let me know! Thanks in advance. Last edited by BluErf; 30th August 2009 at 05:52 AM.

30th August 2009, 03:55 PM	#5
Michel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 139	hulu Tajong? Hi Bluerf, Folowing your information I turn to "Spirit of Wood" to try to identify the below shown Hulu. In spite of the many pictures and nice drawings, (what a marvelous book) I am not able to conclude that this Hulu is a Tajong, a Coteng, or a Bangsa Agung. For me it looks as a mixture but not a classical design in the Tagong family: The sculpture is not as deep and sharp as the one you have shown and the polish not to the same level. What is your opinion. Regards Michel Attached Images

30th August 2009, 05:00 PM	#6
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Removed. See posting below. Last edited by BluErf; 30th August 2009 at 06:06 PM.

30th August 2009, 05:43 AM	#4
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Speaking of patina, I leave it to fellow forumnites to judge.

30th August 2009, 06:05 PM	#7
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	Hello Michel, This hilt of yours, unfortunately, is an 'imitation' hilt made in Java/Madura. It is not from N. Malaya. Hence, you were not able to identify what it was. Java/Madura has been making 'imitations' of tajong and even the silver coteng hilts for quite some time. Some of them look proper from the side, but do not look correct from any other angles, because these people worked on photographs taken from the side angle only.