Malay Buckle (Kris worn with it?)

rand · 28th July 2007, 05:12 AM

http://malaysilverbuckle.blogspot.com/

Was wondering what kris may have been worn with a buckle like the pictured in the above link. Any information you may have about this buckle would be appreciated. Information on blog is mostly from Powerhouse Museum.

rand

PenangsangII · 28th July 2007, 06:19 AM

Dear Rand,

The buckle is called Pending in Javanese & Malay. In Malay custom, pending is only worn by palace courtiers. Due to its big size, I would suggest that it was meant to protect the wearer's abdomen from the thrusts of arrow, spears and of course, another keris. The pending wearer will also wear the keris on his left waist to protect his left side of the ribs with the keris's broad sampir .The Malays / Buginese believe that man is short of 1 rib on the left side. I cant provide a link or other proof however, about this as this is another oral tradition's belief

.

penangsang

David · 28th July 2007, 06:21 AM

Welcome to the forum Rand.

I am not sure that this buckle has any direct relationship to keris other than it being worn as a part of formal dress. Is there some reason you believe there is a connection.
Belts that are used to hold keris in Jawa often have highly decorated buckles, but this seems to come from some other region. The Jawanese buckles look very different. Can't say i have seen any pictures of buckles like these used in connection with keris. Perhaps someone else has seen it.

Alam Shah · 28th July 2007, 06:40 AM

Any Malay keris will do (panjang not included).

Click here for examples on how it is worn.

rand · 28th July 2007, 08:21 AM

Great information guys, thanks. Was surprised that it was worn by palace courtiers, had thought this was something a village chief may had worn. The photo of the group wearing a similar buckle was very cool and enlightening. Was thinking about getting something to display with this buckle, I had thought it for a formal occassian and maybe a more dress kris would be worn with it, but I see now the two have no relation to each other...

Thanks,

rand

Alam Shah · 28th July 2007, 10:48 AM

I've added more info and pics in my site. see it here.

rand · 28th July 2007, 03:54 PM

The Pending buckle you have Alam is very nice, thanks for posting your information. It seems the all silver pending slighty predates the silver niello work and the brass buckles even earlier.

Thanks Again,

rand

David · 29th July 2007, 12:10 AM

Hey Shahrial, who's that handsome fellow third from the right in that first picture?

So what i can't tell for sure in these photos...is the keris actually held by the belt that these buckles fit on, or is it held in the sarong?

Alam Shah · 29th July 2007, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Hey Shahrial, who's that handsome fellow third from the right in that first picture?

So what i can't tell for sure in these photos...is the keris actually held by the belt that these buckles fit on, or is it held in the sarong?

Yeah... thanks, that guy is just one of the average collector.
The keris can be held in the sarong... or held by the belt... a matter of choice.
Some like it hidden from view, some like it prominent, a matter of preference and whom you are, I suppose.

Example 1 ; Example 2 ; Royal Examples.

David · 29th July 2007, 05:10 PM

Thanks Shahrial...great pictures!

Alam Shah · 6th August 2007, 05:16 PM

David, you're welcome...

.

Btw, the average warrior-class normally like to keep their piece hidden from view, including the hilt... but then again... they normally do not wear a buckel either. Royalty prefers to display their keris and they are the ones more likely to wear a pending (belt-buckle).

Gustav · 30th May 2012, 05:15 PM

A picture of a Minangkabau chief... the only person in picture wearing Pending (and keris in a very showy way/behind the Pending)... and shoes

David · 30th May 2012, 05:32 PM

Here is Rand's original image from the link for further reference just incase that link goes bad. I have noticed that Shahrial's examples are no longer connected with the links he posted. Perhaps you still have access to these photos and can directly post them. This is why we strongly encourage all photos to be uploaded directly to the threads.

asomotif · 31st May 2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Here is Rand's original image from the link for further reference just incase that link goes bad.

And the size for later reference ; This buckle is 9" wide and 4 1/4"

28th July 2007, 05:12 AM	#1
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 538	Malay Buckle (Kris worn with it?) http://malaysilverbuckle.blogspot.com/ Was wondering what kris may have been worn with a buckle like the pictured in the above link. Any information you may have about this buckle would be appreciated. Information on blog is mostly from Powerhouse Museum. rand

28th July 2007, 08:21 AM	#5
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 538	Great Info- Thanks Great information guys, thanks. Was surprised that it was worn by palace courtiers, had thought this was something a village chief may had worn. The photo of the group wearing a similar buckle was very cool and enlightening. Was thinking about getting something to display with this buckle, I had thought it for a formal occassian and maybe a more dress kris would be worn with it, but I see now the two have no relation to each other... Thanks, rand

28th July 2007, 03:54 PM	#7
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 538	Pending The Pending buckle you have Alam is very nice, thanks for posting your information. It seems the all silver pending slighty predates the silver niello work and the brass buckles even earlier. Thanks Again, rand

30th May 2012, 05:15 PM	#12
Gustav Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,249	A picture of a Minangkabau chief... the only person in picture wearing Pending (and keris in a very showy way/behind the Pending)... and shoes Attached Images

30th May 2012, 05:32 PM	#13
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,130	Here is Rand's original image from the link for further reference just incase that link goes bad. I have noticed that Shahrial's examples are no longer connected with the links he posted. Perhaps you still have access to these photos and can directly post them. This is why we strongly encourage all photos to be uploaded directly to the threads. Attached Images

28th July 2007, 06:19 AM	#2
PenangsangII Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 401	Dear Rand, The buckle is called Pending in Javanese & Malay. In Malay custom, pending is only worn by palace courtiers. Due to its big size, I would suggest that it was meant to protect the wearer's abdomen from the thrusts of arrow, spears and of course, another keris. The pending wearer will also wear the keris on his left waist to protect his left side of the ribs with the keris's broad sampir .The Malays / Buginese believe that man is short of 1 rib on the left side. I cant provide a link or other proof however, about this as this is another oral tradition's belief . penangsang

28th July 2007, 06:21 AM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,130	Welcome to the forum Rand. I am not sure that this buckle has any direct relationship to keris other than it being worn as a part of formal dress. Is there some reason you believe there is a connection. Belts that are used to hold keris in Jawa often have highly decorated buckles, but this seems to come from some other region. The Jawanese buckles look very different. Can't say i have seen any pictures of buckles like these used in connection with keris. Perhaps someone else has seen it.

28th July 2007, 06:40 AM	#4
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Any Malay keris will do (panjang not included). Click here for examples on how it is worn.

28th July 2007, 10:48 AM	#6
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	I've added more info and pics in my site. see it here.

29th July 2007, 12:10 AM	#8
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,130	Hey Shahrial, who's that handsome fellow third from the right in that first picture? So what i can't tell for sure in these photos...is the keris actually held by the belt that these buckles fit on, or is it held in the sarong?

29th July 2007, 05:10 PM	#10
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,130	Thanks Shahrial...great pictures!

6th August 2007, 05:16 PM	#11
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	David, you're welcome... . Btw, the average warrior-class normally like to keep their piece hidden from view, including the hilt... but then again... they normally do not wear a buckel either. Royalty prefers to display their keris and they are the ones more likely to wear a pending (belt-buckle).