Keris Coteng

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by maxbliss888

My friends Keris

Great pieces, lucky owner! Can we see the blades?

Regards,
Detlef

[maxbliss888]

I think I must have seen 80% of the Coteng in Thailand from my interaction with the fellow Thai collectors. Many of the Thai collectors are not selling their Coteng and Keris as these antique ones are hard to find now.

Photos

[maxbliss888]

Another collector's Coteng

[Jean]

Thanks Max. From my Indonesian kris collector's perspective, the beauty of these krisses is the hilt and the scabbard to a lesser degree but the blades are not very impressive .
Regards

[maxbliss888]

I think the beauty of the Coteng lies in its history and the legacy of the Patanni Sultanate, that is no longer around.

Given then fact that the 4 Northern Malay states are now part of Thailand after British decision in 1909, with the integration and assimilation into the Thai culture and religion, many of the old traditions are slowly fading away. In fact, the Coteng Keris has become so rare that one hardly see it in the market and only in the collectors hands. Keris has become a lost art in Southern Thailand.

For those who love the nice blade, my guess is that the Keris from Indonesia may be a better option. For me, since I am working and staying in Thailand, my love for the Coteng lies in the fact that it is Thailand specific keris plus not many of these survive given the harsh environment here. Moreover, those Keris that I see are with collectors or families who keep them as family heirloom and heritage.

Just my 2 cents..

[Jean]

Yes Max, I fully understand your cultural point of view, mine was purely based on aesthetics and quality of craftsmanship, and it is just a personal opinion... Very interesting thread and reference anyway, many thanks!
Which are the 3 other Northern Malay states now part of Thailand?
Regards

[maxbliss888]

Originally Posted by Jean

Yes Max, I fully understand your cultural point of view, mine was purely based on aesthetics and quality of craftsmanship, and it is just a personal opinion... Very interesting thread and reference anyway, many thanks!
Which are the 3 other Northern Malay states now part of Thailand?
Regards

Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala and parts of Songkhla. With the exception of Songkhla, many Thai classified the other 3 regions as dangerous owing to the occasional bombing.

I have just visited Songkhla and didn't see any Keris out in the open. One has to see via the collectors. I have spent months getting in contacts with many collectors and the photos above are almost the maximum I could see from the various friends and collectors. Owing to the assimilation into the Thai culture, not many of the tradition survive.

My guess is that the culture is still alive in some part of Indonesia and Malaysia. I went to Batam Indonesia and couldn't find any keris there too...