Coteng
 

Close up

Co teng blade
 

Better photo I hope

Much better .
Thanks !

Coteng
 

Met a fellow collector of Coteng from Thailand..

Coteng
 

Closer view

Coteng
 

Coteng

Coteng
 

Hope you like the photo showing different Coteng in different length

Different coteng
 

Showing Coteng

Coteng
 

I know many collectors here prefers to have strong blades and strong Keris.

Please bear with me. It seems that there are differences in the Coteng carvings as seen below. I was told that besides Wooden hilt, silver holt, there is also Coteng hilt made in Brass. Anyone seen Coteng hilt using other materials?

Coteng Hilt
 

i have spoken with fellow Thai Keris collectors and they have confirmed that vintage Coteng comes mainly from Yala, Songkla or Narathiwat. However, I was told that one would not be able to see them so often in these cities now.

Another question that I have asked is with regards to why most Coteng is relatively shorter compare with the Longer Tajong and it seems is the result of the preferences from the region as those who prefer Coteng prefer it to be discreet. I have asked further why the conditions of the Coteng is not as well kept as the other Keris and the answer is that these Cotengs were used during their days and were not merely display Keris...

Just wanted to share what I have heard...

Good authentic cotengs! Glad you went to the right dealer and bought the right stuff. Well done!

The age of these kerises are very difficult to ascertain. They are probably pre-20th century, but even then, hard to be sure.

I have the idea that silver covered coteng are generally younger than the old plainer wooden ones. Tajongs and cotengs are related, and at some point shared a common ancestor. However, they evolved along their own paths and became distinct subforms. Hence, nit all cotengs are older than every tajong you see.

In terms of upper limits on age, the earliest coteng/tajong specimens found are probably around 2-300yrs old. So the proto-coteng probably came to the north Malay peninsula region around 16th-17th century. That's just theory though.

Coteng
 

The Tajong are also getting harder to find here in Thailand as many have restored new handles.

Have you travelled to Trengganu? Are there many antique Tajong or Coteng there?

Good ones are mostly in private collections. Mediocre ones for sale can still be found, but even then, they are getting harder to get and expensive.

Coteng to share
 

Another Coteng to share..

Coteng variations
 

There are many variations of Coteng. This example of Coteng has a sharper beak compare to the earlier..

Does anybody know the purpose of keris coteng?

Everyday weapon use, court use, wedding keris or pusaka?

Coteng
 

ı ʂ℘ơƙɛ ῳıɬɧ ą ʄɛῳ ƈơƖƖɛƈɬơཞs from Thailand, they have confirmed that these Coteng they found in the homes of the original owners were used by their ancestors...

Coteng variations
 

This Coteng has a straight blade..For those who prefers a stronger blade..

Blade
 

Day light photo

Coteng with older wooden handle
 

Has any one seen this Coteng wooden handle? It looks like a Tajong but it's a Coteng

Very nice Coteng handle, maybe a transition piece. :shrug:

Regards,
Detlef

Coteng wooden
 

A fellow collector's Coteng

Hello Max,

To me this looks like a nice, probably early hulu Tajong: while really small, it does have a ridge below its chin which clearly represents a beard despite being smaller than usual (as compared with typical hulu Tajong).

AFAIK, hulu Coteng never have a beard and the typical flat head. The hilt you show has a considerably heavier head (again like typical hulu Tajong).

What is the reasoning of your local contacts? (Assuming they favor the classification of this hilt as hulu Coteng?)

Regards,
Kai

Hello Max,

Thanks for posting all these keris Coteng (from your and other collections) for future reference!

Some really neat examples, congrats!

Regards,
Kai

Coteng
 

Thanks for your input.

The classification between Tajong and Coteng is often blurred here in this instance, which is why I thought it will be good to share with fellow collectors here. I have thought that since Thailand is the place for Tajong and Coteng, there will be opportunities to see more of these, but it Its not the case...

Hope you all enjoy the photos...

Coteng
 

A few Coteng to share...

This would normally be classified as a tajong. The form is closer to a mid-late period tajong.

It has a boxier form, and a rudimentary beard, from the looks of the photo.

A "kampung"" quality hilt, which is still nice, but not exactly an archetype form to do deep analysis on.

Coteng
 

A friend's Coteng

Coteng
 

Thanks..

First time I heard the term Kampung quality hilt... : ı thought all Keris are made in some kampong somewhere during the ancient days...

I meant good enough to wear around in the kampung, but not fine enough for the higher social strata. Sorry, this sounds politically incorrect, but that's the way art is. The centre of wealth and political power breeds high excellence in artistic expression which form the pinnacles of art that ordinary folks copy, emulate and aspire to own/consume. Like all facsimiles, definition is lost in the process.