Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Keris Warung Kopi
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 4th May 2020, 04:29 AM   #1
JustYS
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 138
Default Pamor Questions

Dear all,

I have couple of questions regarding Keris that has more than one pamor:

- Are there any technical limitations on how many pamor a Keris can have?
- Are there any technical limitations or conventional constraints on which type of pamor can be made together (i.e. miring with miring?, mlumah with mlumah?)

Cheers,
JustYS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4th May 2020, 10:24 PM   #2
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,877
Default

In respect of technical limitations the only limitations I can think of are the skill of the smith. The process is simply pattern welding.

In respect of cultural limitations the limiting factors are whether we have a different pamor (only one motif) on each side of a blade, or whether we have multiple motifs on both sides of the blade.

In the first option of a blade with, say, wos wutah on one side and bendo sagodo on the other side, we have pamor tangkis, "tangkis" means to defend against, parry, ward off. Pamor tangkis is believed to be a defence against black magic, a shield, if you will.

In the case of multiple motifs, the number of motifs should always be odd, and should be understood to reflect the same hierarchical symbolism as the number of luk in a blade.
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th May 2020, 12:10 AM   #3
jagabuwana
Member
 
jagabuwana's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 280
Default

in the case of pamor tangkis, is the execution a matter of making two pattern-welded laminations, and then welding the two laminations together?
jagabuwana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th May 2020, 02:27 AM   #4
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,877
Default

Make a billet of wos wutah sufficient for both blade faces, insert steel core between them, weld, surface manipulate one blade face to produce udan mas or bendo sagodo or wiji timun or whatever, finish the blade.
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th May 2020, 03:53 AM   #5
JustYS
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 138
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
In respect of technical limitations the only limitations I can think of are the skill of the smith. The process is simply pattern welding.

In respect of cultural limitations the limiting factors are whether we have a different pamor (only one motif) on each side of a blade, or whether we have multiple motifs on both sides of the blade.

In the first option of a blade with, say, wos wutah on one side and bendo sagodo on the other side, we have pamor tangkis, "tangkis" means to defend against, parry, ward off. Pamor tangkis is believed to be a defence against black magic, a shield, if you will.

In the case of multiple motifs, the number of motifs should always be odd, and should be understood to reflect the same hierarchical symbolism as the number of luk in a blade.
Thank you for your explanations Alan.

Regarding your last paragraph may I ask further clarifications?

So for example a Keris with 2 pamors (i.e. ron genduru and wengkon) on both sides of the blades is considered outside the cultural constraints because the number of motifs in only 2 (even number)?

Or is ron genduru and wengkon considered as 1 pamor only?

Thank you
JustYS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th May 2020, 05:53 AM   #6
A. G. Maisey
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,877
Default

My understanding is that a pamor that incorporates a wengkon is a single motif.
A. G. Maisey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6th May 2020, 01:42 AM   #7
JustYS
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 138
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
My understanding is that a pamor that incorporates a wengkon is a single motif.
Noted and thank you Alan
JustYS is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.