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 7th January 2008, 03:06 PM   #1
jonng
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 41
Default Tridacna identification

Hi All,

Appreciate if anyone can give more info on how to identify a Tridacna hilt. I've posted some pics. Are the lines shown the growth lines? Any examples and close up pics of hilts made from the giant clam shell would be much appreciated.

B/rgds,
Jon
Attached Images
  
jonng is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7th January 2008, 03:49 PM   #2
Alam Shah
Member
 
Alam Shah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,248
Default

Afaik, this is one.
Alam Shah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th January 2008, 01:38 AM   #3
Newsteel
Member
 
Newsteel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 132
Default

That looks a kemoh (Tridacna) hilt for sure. The black scattered dots are actually mineral deposits. Taking the point that this is calcium and mineral from the sea bed would easily deposited in it, unlike bones or ivory there is less contact with other mineral source. Is that a Tajong hilt???
Newsteel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th January 2008, 12:05 PM   #4
Marcokeris
Member
 
Marcokeris's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Italy
Posts: 928
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jonng
Hi All,

Appreciate if anyone can give more info on how to identify a Tridacna hilt. I've posted some pics. Are the lines shown the growth lines? Any examples and close up pics of hilts made from the giant clam shell would be much appreciated.

B/rgds,
Jon
Hi Jon
another example
Attached Images
 
Marcokeris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 8th January 2008, 02:39 PM   #5
jonng
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 41
Default

Thank you guys for your kind info and pic.
You're spot on Newsteel!
jonng is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9th January 2008, 10:27 AM   #6
Newsteel
Member
 
Newsteel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 132
Default

I was told that the black spots or lines that appear on the hilt is when it is obtained near the outer/crust of the shell. The deeper (inner) shell would have a cleaner white appearance.

Probably, the sample from Marcokeris is one obtained from the centre of the shell

jonng,
I could see the lotus petal carving on your hilt. I guess this could be a tajong.
Newsteel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9th January 2008, 04:36 PM   #7
jonng
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 41
Default

Newsteel,
You are right. There are more black spots on one side ( probably the outer crust) than the other which has only a handful. I still think the lines are growth lines as they can be seen throughout the whole piece, now that I have cleaned off some of the dirt on the tajong hilt. It's a big piece so as much of the material as possible must have been utilized.
Thanks again for checking.
jonng is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th January 2009, 07:05 PM   #8
ganjawulung
Member
 
ganjawulung's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: J a k a r t a
Posts: 991
Default TRIDACNA Keris Hilt?

Dear All,

Would you please inform me, is this the kind of "tridacna hilt"? How can you identify whether this is "tridacna" or not? What is the specialty of this kind of hilt? (Who wears this kind of hilt?) I found this hilt in Jakarta this Monday afternoon...

Thanks in advance...

GANJAWULUNG
Attached Images
   
ganjawulung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5th January 2009, 07:42 PM   #9
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,293
Smile

I googled this :

Tridacna Gigas Shell belongs to one of Buddhism's seven gems (gold, silver, coloured glaze, shell, agate, amber and coral). This precious underwater gemstone possesses graciousness and an intricate spiral design. Having gone through millions of years of cultivation, the strength of magnetism is in abundance. At the same time, it has also gathered nature's forces and worked to improve body's flow of magnetism.
Living within the presence of the gem's forces will strengthen the immune system and alter luck for the better. Tridacna Gigas Shell is a gem of choice.

I would assume that this material is very hard and difficult to carve .
Rick is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 6th January 2009, 04:30 AM   #10
ganjawulung
Member
 
ganjawulung's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: J a k a r t a
Posts: 991
Default

Thank you, Rick,

This 'shell hilt' is also heavier than ordinary stone or agate. And you are right, it is harder to carve. I put other fotos, which I took on daylight...

GANJAWULUNG
Attached Images
  
ganjawulung is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 6th January 2009, 03:33 PM   #11
Alam Shah
Member
 
Alam Shah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,248
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ganjawulung
.. This 'shell hilt' is also heavier than ordinary stone or agate. And you are right, it is harder to carve. I put other fotos, which I took on daylight...

GANJAWULUNG
That looks like a kemoh (Tridacna) to me. Lovely mendak (pendokok).. btw.
Alam Shah 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 01:38 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.