Help identify Klewang

kai · 10th May 2017, 03:02 PM

Hello Dominique,

What are the total and blade length of your piece?

Quote:

The hilt shape reminds me of the Aceh Co Jang, and interestingly the back of the blades have similar chiseling close to the hilt.

Incidentally, there is the gliwang=k(e)lewang pucok meukawet from the greater Aceh region characterised by a blade with strongly down-curving tip; however, this is a long blade for fighting only. From the same area hails the sadeueb (basically a billhook with a long, round hilt of approx. same length as the blade); this is obviously a tool that can double as a weapon if needed. Despite a roughly similar outline, these Aceh blades are quite different in detail as well as in the iron/steel utilized.

I'd also argue that the similarity of the hilt of your piece and the hulu tapa guda from northern Sumatra is spurious: It has the same function to keep the hand from slipping off the hilt; however, your piece does not show any stylistic key features that would indicate an origin from the greater Aceh region.

Also the chiseling at the base of the blade is quite distinct: In your blade the base of the back of the blade has a protrusion which seems to correspond with the possible Garuda head/beak as found on most tiuk pengentas from Bali; also the decoration at the vertical base of the blade is typical Bali work as is the pamor.

Regards,
Kai

Dominique · 12th May 2017, 06:10 AM

Hi,
Thank you for your inputs.
The blade length is 46cm, the hilth is 18cm. The blade is very sharp and sturdy.
It does not seem to be recently refitted and the ferrule fits well the blade and the hilt. The hilt has 7 facets.
There is a number (990) on the top of the hilt, which looks like an inventory number. I assume it was part of an old collection.
The are similarities with the "Batek" page 339 of Keris di Lombok.
Dominique

A. G. Maisey · 12th May 2017, 07:32 AM

The groove is a pretty common feature Gustav, we can find it on all sorts of edged implements in both Jawa and Bali, as well as other places.

Incidentally, I'm not pushing the barrow for Jawa origin with this thing, I'm just relating what I've seen. I've never seen one of these things in Jawa, I have in Bali, but the overall impression I get of it is Jawa.

Gustav, the P339 pic in Keris Lombok is of something that in Bali is called a "blakas pengentas", essentially it is a tool, but these days it tends to get used more in cremation ceremonies. Different people use different names for all these curved implements, sometimes it will be a blakas, sometimes a pengentas, sometimes a mardhik, sometimes a caluk, sometimes a blakas whatever, whatever, whatever. All these primarily agricultural implements were used as weapons and had special weapon versions. Same as in Jawa.

The pic on P.338 is actually something that most people would call a pedang, but the name here is given as "berang" or "golok" . In fact, it cannot be either, because it is simply not heavy enough and the form is certainly not anything like the Javanese berang which is a type of wedung with a short, heavy, chopping blade.

The desire of collectors to stick names on things is not limited to collectors in the western world. Lalu Djelengga did live in Lombok, but he was primarily a collector.

The simple fact of the matter is this:- we are dealing with a society that uses a non-standard language. Things vary. Names of things vary. It is a language designed for verbal communication, not written communication, the important thing is that the person you are speaking with understands you. This is a bit hard to accept for people who base their communication on writing and refer to dictionaries and thesauruses.

What I've seen happen when it comes to naming an object is that the name will change depending upon how it is being used right at that moment, for example, take a large kitchen knife, when it is being used to slice meat or vegetables in the kitchen it will be a "pisau" (piso), when it is taken outside the house to prune a prickly bush it will be a "golok".

As far as I'm concerned, the name for this implement under discussion is "mardhik". I do not know with certainty its geographic point of origin, but since it displays what I understand to be both Javanese and Balinese indicators, I am inclined to place it as either East Jawa or West Bali.

Dominique · 14th May 2017, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I'm not pushing the barrow for Jawa origin with this thing, I'm just relating what I've seen. I've never seen one of these things in Jawa, I have in Bali, but the overall impression I get of it is Jawa...I am inclined to place it as either East Jawa or West Bali.

Thank you Alan, for your explanations. This "mardhik" to call it by your suggested name, was sold at an auction with several old keris from East and North Jawa, and a couple from Bali, which would tend to confirm your inclination towards Jawa.

A. G. Maisey · 14th May 2017, 09:20 AM

Things move around Dominique. Indonesia now is not like it was 200 years ago, there has been easy movement between all places for a long time. I reckon just about anything that was acquired on the ground in Indonesia during the last, say, 150 years could have originated anywhere.

I don't favour either Bali or Jawa for this mardhik, the workmanship looks Javanese --- well to me it does --- but I've only ever seen this type of thing in Bali. Toss a coin.

DaveA · 24th May 2017, 01:09 AM

A fascinating piece! Thank you for posting.

I believe the hilt is a variant of Hulu Tapa Guda (also Hulu Tapa Gudo, Oelee Tapa Göda, Oeloe Tapa Koedo, Soekol Tapa Koedo, Sukul Tapa Kuedo). This hilt is designed to resemble a horse's hoof on the pommel. This version is usually simply designed and slightly bent towards the blade edge side. It is found mostly on Rudus, and the Co Jang.

It is a risk to stretch analogies too far, but the gross characteristic of a recurred edge leading to a hook reminds me of the parang beng kok as identified first by Gardner (plate 58) and then picked up by Van Zonneveld (page 98). (These IDs have been disputed in the forum.). The point I wish to make is that it looks like a working blade for cutting and clearing cane or similar crop -- the hooked end provides an easy way to capture and throw cut cane aside.

Best,

Dave A

Dominique · 14th June 2018, 09:16 PM

In Czerny's last auction catalog item 31, listed as a Kudi Tranchang from Bali, is very similar to mine, except for the hilt.
As for the hilt, the following picture from asomotif in older thread about Bali Pengantas, shows a similar faceted hilt and ferrule.

24th May 2017, 01:09 AM	#6
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 416	Hilt \| Hulu Tapa Guda A fascinating piece! Thank you for posting. I believe the hilt is a variant of Hulu Tapa Guda (also Hulu Tapa Gudo, Oelee Tapa Göda, Oeloe Tapa Koedo, Soekol Tapa Koedo, Sukul Tapa Kuedo). This hilt is designed to resemble a horse's hoof on the pommel. This version is usually simply designed and slightly bent towards the blade edge side. It is found mostly on Rudus, and the Co Jang. It is a risk to stretch analogies too far, but the gross characteristic of a recurred edge leading to a hook reminds me of the parang beng kok as identified first by Gardner (plate 58) and then picked up by Van Zonneveld (page 98). (These IDs have been disputed in the forum.). The point I wish to make is that it looks like a working blade for cutting and clearing cane or similar crop -- the hooked end provides an easy way to capture and throw cut cane aside. Best, Dave A

14th June 2018, 09:16 PM	#7
Dominique Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Paris Posts: 21	Kudi Tranchang In Czerny's last auction catalog item 31, listed as a Kudi Tranchang from Bali, is very similar to mine, except for the hilt. As for the hilt, the following picture from asomotif in older thread about Bali Pengantas, shows a similar faceted hilt and ferrule. Attached Images

12th May 2017, 06:10 AM	#2
Dominique Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Paris Posts: 21	Hi, Thank you for your inputs. The blade length is 46cm, the hilth is 18cm. The blade is very sharp and sturdy. It does not seem to be recently refitted and the ferrule fits well the blade and the hilt. The hilt has 7 facets. There is a number (990) on the top of the hilt, which looks like an inventory number. I assume it was part of an old collection. The are similarities with the "Batek" page 339 of Keris di Lombok. Dominique

12th May 2017, 07:32 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	The groove is a pretty common feature Gustav, we can find it on all sorts of edged implements in both Jawa and Bali, as well as other places. Incidentally, I'm not pushing the barrow for Jawa origin with this thing, I'm just relating what I've seen. I've never seen one of these things in Jawa, I have in Bali, but the overall impression I get of it is Jawa. Gustav, the P339 pic in Keris Lombok is of something that in Bali is called a "blakas pengentas", essentially it is a tool, but these days it tends to get used more in cremation ceremonies. Different people use different names for all these curved implements, sometimes it will be a blakas, sometimes a pengentas, sometimes a mardhik, sometimes a caluk, sometimes a blakas whatever, whatever, whatever. All these primarily agricultural implements were used as weapons and had special weapon versions. Same as in Jawa. The pic on P.338 is actually something that most people would call a pedang, but the name here is given as "berang" or "golok" . In fact, it cannot be either, because it is simply not heavy enough and the form is certainly not anything like the Javanese berang which is a type of wedung with a short, heavy, chopping blade. The desire of collectors to stick names on things is not limited to collectors in the western world. Lalu Djelengga did live in Lombok, but he was primarily a collector. The simple fact of the matter is this:- we are dealing with a society that uses a non-standard language. Things vary. Names of things vary. It is a language designed for verbal communication, not written communication, the important thing is that the person you are speaking with understands you. This is a bit hard to accept for people who base their communication on writing and refer to dictionaries and thesauruses. What I've seen happen when it comes to naming an object is that the name will change depending upon how it is being used right at that moment, for example, take a large kitchen knife, when it is being used to slice meat or vegetables in the kitchen it will be a "pisau" (piso), when it is taken outside the house to prune a prickly bush it will be a "golok". As far as I'm concerned, the name for this implement under discussion is "mardhik". I do not know with certainty its geographic point of origin, but since it displays what I understand to be both Javanese and Balinese indicators, I am inclined to place it as either East Jawa or West Bali.

14th May 2017, 09:20 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Things move around Dominique. Indonesia now is not like it was 200 years ago, there has been easy movement between all places for a long time. I reckon just about anything that was acquired on the ground in Indonesia during the last, say, 150 years could have originated anywhere. I don't favour either Bali or Jawa for this mardhik, the workmanship looks Javanese --- well to me it does --- but I've only ever seen this type of thing in Bali. Toss a coin.