View Full Version : Tajong for viewing pleasure and comments !
mykeris
11th August 2009, 02:55 PM
This Tajong is relatively short with total length of 52 cm. The hilt is made of Kenaong Merah with short blade Pandai Saras Luk 1. Appreciate what ever your kind comments are, TQ in advance. Mykeris.
mykeris
11th August 2009, 03:08 PM
For your viewing pleasure.
BluErf
11th August 2009, 03:10 PM
Small sized, but every thing is in good proportion. The hilt is quite inspired, in my opinion. Adheres to the "rules" of what makes a tajong a tajong, but at the same time, bending them and reinterpreting in the carver's own style. A mark of a talented carver. :)
BluErf
11th August 2009, 03:12 PM
I believe the nose is a replacement. :) Nicely done.
BluErf
11th August 2009, 03:15 PM
Some of the surface of the tajong suggests that it may have been sanded down or polished to a certain extent. Too flat in some places. May have been an attempt to remove the old sapan.
mykeris
11th August 2009, 04:08 PM
More close-ups
Sajen
11th August 2009, 04:57 PM
Nice hilt, I don't think that it is inspired.
Can we see the complete blade please?
sajen
mykeris
11th August 2009, 05:21 PM
Blade Length: Ganja to blade tip 36 cm
Alam Shah
11th August 2009, 05:40 PM
I believe the nose is a replacement. :) Nicely done.I suppose so.. with a sudden termination of carvings, when it reaches the nose.. it looks like a hybrid of the bangsa agong and a typical later form, perhaps.. :confused:
Sajen
11th August 2009, 06:10 PM
Blade Length: Ganja to blade tip 36 cm
Hello Mykeris,
thank's for the pictures of the blade. The blade is curved but not one luk, my two cents worth estimation.;)
Regards,
sajen
mykeris
11th August 2009, 10:33 PM
Thanks and sincerely noted. Another sample with blade 41 cm.
Sajen
11th August 2009, 11:09 PM
Thanks and sincerely noted. Another sample with blade 41 cm.
Yes, I see why you call the first one "1 luk" but normally the lowest luk is three.
Regards,
sajen
David
11th August 2009, 11:45 PM
I don't know, from this last group of close-ups it looks like the grain and tone of the wood lines up pretty well. I would be seriously impressed if the nose on this tajong is a replacement. :shrug: :)
BluErf
12th August 2009, 01:45 AM
I've seen a few tajongs with such 'surgical' replacements, and I've always been impressed by how well the replacement is done! But of course, for this case, I am only guessing from the pics; perhaps Mykeris can look at it more closely and let us know? :)
BluErf
12th August 2009, 01:47 AM
it looks like a hybrid of the bangsa agong and a typical later form, perhaps.. :confused:
Yes, that's why I say it is inspired. :) But it is undoubtedly done by somebody who is very familiar with the tajong.
Sajen - I think you may need to see more tajongs to notice the subtlety. :)
BluErf
12th August 2009, 01:58 AM
Blade Length: Ganja to blade tip 36 cm
Yep, it's curved, but I don't know whether people up north really do consider this 1 luk. More likely straight. I had a keris from this region with a similar curved profile. Actually, come to think of it, the profile at the base of the blade is quite similar.
Notice the temper mark, which is a chevron shape. It has a name, which I cannot recall now.
David
12th August 2009, 02:39 AM
I've seen a few tajongs with such 'surgical' replacements, and I've always been impressed by how well the replacement is done! But of course, for this case, I am only guessing from the pics; perhaps Mykeris can look at it more closely and let us know? :)
I have little doubt that such surgical replacement can be done...but i would still be mightily impressed. :cool:
I'd love to know what you do call that chevron temper mark. I have a blade with a similar line. :)
BluErf
12th August 2009, 02:39 PM
During the course of the day, two words popped up... "pucuk rebung". :)
mykeris
12th August 2009, 02:53 PM
Perhaps this would help.
David
12th August 2009, 03:42 PM
Well, in these last 2 pics it does look like a replacement.
What are your thoughts with the hilt in hand Mykeris?
Sajen
12th August 2009, 11:55 PM
Yes, that's why I say it is inspired. :) But it is undoubtedly done by somebody who is very familiar with the tajong.
Sajen - I think you may need to see more tajongs to notice the subtlety. :)
Hello BluErf,
you are correct, I know nearly nothing about Tajong keris. ;)
But I have learned and have been remembered from Mr. Maisey some time ago that it isn't possible to have "one luk" keris.
We cannot have a one luk keris; lowest count must be three.
You begin the count on the first luk above the gandik and finish the count on the same side of the blade, thus lowest number of luk can only be three.
But maybe I am wrong by this and this "rule" isn't valid by Tajong keris?
I know that you have a great experience by Tajong keris and I appreciate your knowledge very much, so please teach me by this.
Sincerely,
sajen
A. G. Maisey
13th August 2009, 12:22 AM
Any person, or group of people, can decide how they wish to refer to anything.
If a person, or group of people, wish to refer to a keris with no luk, but with a blade that is clearly lurus as "luk satu", well, so be it. That is their decision.
However, according to what I have been taught, there is no such thing as "luk satu".
One luk does not exist, and logically cannot exist.
But anybody at all is entitled to his own opinion.
PenangsangII
13th August 2009, 04:16 AM
I agree.... there's no such thing as luk satu....... and i believe it's just a recently concocted terminology......
Alan, do you think that the keris had undergone reshaping works / besutan esp at the sorsoran, to be precise, reshaping the worn out blade to display perfect ri pandan and other fret works?
A. G. Maisey
13th August 2009, 05:56 AM
I don't know.
The sorsoran does look a bit clumsy and rigid, but whether this is the maker's inadequacy, or whether it is evidence of somebody having a bit of a fiddle, I wouldn't like to say, especially from a photo.
mykeris
13th August 2009, 06:41 AM
Hi David, I ll comeback to our question later. Regards, Mykeris.
PenangsangII
13th August 2009, 07:13 AM
Thanks for uploading the clearer picture of the fret works, mykeris.
looking at the blade as whole, I think it is out of proportion, especially at the sorsoran..... it doesnt widen harmoniously as a keris blade (dapur pandai saras) should be...... since this blade is quite old and dressed in Tajong hulu and sheath, I dont think it's due to the empu's inadequacy - rather, my theory is, somebody may have fiddled the blade to look good (some times to fetch a higher price).... But of course, I am not too sure about this :shrug:
mykeris
13th August 2009, 02:53 PM
Thanks for all your comments. Through close magnifying, the hilt looks to me so natural to show that the nose is not a replacement. However, it looks so odd when the carving stops unfinished and thats raised many questions. Probably, its a trend or the carver's trade mark or etc...Bluerf, you raised strong points and you are so observant, keep it up friend, ...I always overlooked on details.
As for the blade, I totally agree with Alan but will leave it to the Universe to decide. p/s: I will be posting another one for your viewing pleasure. Regards, Mykeris.
BluErf
14th August 2009, 04:50 PM
Hello BluErf,
you are correct, I know nearly nothing about Tajong keris. ;)
But I have learned and have been remembered from Mr. Maisey some time ago that it isn't possible to have "one luk" keris.
We cannot have a one luk keris; lowest count must be three.
You begin the count on the first luk above the gandik and finish the count on the same side of the blade, thus lowest number of luk can only be three.
But maybe I am wrong by this and this "rule" isn't valid by Tajong keris?
I know that you have a great experience by Tajong keris and I appreciate your knowledge very much, so please teach me by this.
Sincerely,
sajen
Hi Sajen,
I wasn't talking about the keris blade; I was referring to the hilt being inspired. :)
Personally, I am not really bothered about the luk one or lurus thing, but I believe up North, they don't really refer to such blades as luk one. :)
BluErf
14th August 2009, 04:54 PM
Thanks for all your comments. Through close magnifying, the hilt looks to me so natural to show that the nose is not a replacement. However, it looks so odd when the carving stops unfinished and thats raised many questions. Probably, its a trend or the carver's trade mark or etc...Bluerf, you raised strong points and you are so observant, keep it up friend, ...I always overlooked on details.
As for the blade, I totally agree with Alan but will leave it to the Universe to decide. p/s: I will be posting another one for your viewing pleasure. Regards, Mykeris.
Hi Mykeris,
The tajong hilt's nose has a metal sleeve? It seems so from the last 2 pics you have posted. I can't tell whether the nose is a replacement for sure, but just do note that sometimes, some of these old repairs are so perfectly fitted, that one can hardly notice! But of course, I'm not doubting your observation, especially with the aid of a magnifying glass. :)
BluErf
14th August 2009, 04:57 PM
Oh wait a minute, its a different tajong you're showing us. This one's rougher compared to the 1st one you showed us.
David
14th August 2009, 05:38 PM
Oh wait a minute, its a different tajong you're showing us. This one's rougher compared to the 1st one you showed us.
Yes, thank you Kai Wee, it was driving me crazy trying to figure it out. Mykeris, i don't understand why you did this. It has only caused confusion as i think most people assumed you were just showing more close-ups of the original tajong. :shrug:
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