Keris Gayo and the Tajong hilt?
 

When holding and looking at this Keris Gayo somehow it reminds me of a Tajong hilt, even if it is supposed to be a "pimped" Jawa Demam.
Any ideas on this possible relationship?

Michael

It' reali beautiful :) :) :eek:

Hi Michael,

Lovely example of a Keris Gayo, congratulations. In what way does it resemble the Tajong hilt? I was looking for similarities but having difficulty. :o

Shahrial

Michale,

Nice keris. I love the silver / suasa work on the scabbard.

The nose could make one think of Tajong.
But specifically the nose appears to be repaired as the silver work has a different style and workmanship. :shrug:
Still a very nice ensemble.

Best regards,
Willem

Thanks,

Shahrial, I was of course thinking about the long beak. But also about the way the "bird claws"
and legs are positioned in the front.
Here is a Coteng and Tajong from below to compare.

Willem, I don't really get it with the silver on the beak?
That's the traditional way for this style of Gayo hilts to have a long beak like this.
It's the "woodpecker" type, according to Karsten Sejr Jensen's classification of Gayo hilts.
Or maybe I misunderstood your comment?

Michael

Hello Michael,

I know the nose is supposed to be long.
But the silver work on the nose appears newer to me than the other fittings.
Further the tajong influence that comes to mind is the nose.
But that is about it. Otherwise the gayo hilts are indeed cleary derived from jawa demam hilts.

Best regards,
Willem

Willem,

I don't think the "nose job" is newer.
The other resemblance with a Tajong/Coteng, and difference to a Jawa Demam, I tried to illustrate is the position of the limbs. If you look at the Jawa Demam it has the "fever blanket" position with a diagonal arm (see ref. pict. below). This Gayo, as well as the Tajong/Coteng has a more bird like position of the limbs. But it's neither the same as the sitting position of the Burung, pure bird hilt with one hand up and the other down (see other ref. pict.). Hopefully these pictures will illustrate what I wanted to highlight.

Michael

Hello Michael,

imho The gayo hilt has the feverblanket position.(see pics)
The other lower "limbs" make me think of bend legs, as in forefather statues :shrug:

Love the metal work. Looks like suassa and silver. Just not crazy about the extra nose on the hilt.

Yes, now I see the arm Willem.
Sometimes you get blind when you have an idea in your head...

Michael

Agree by the metal cover over the "nose". I think that this was usual by jawa deman hilts from Gayo. Here a example of my collection.

BTW, very very nice keris you have there Michael!:)

Regards,

Detlef

Nice to see that my hilt has a cousin in Germany.

Michael

I would be glad when your keris have a cousin here in Germany! ;) :D

Detlef

Very helpful Sajen.