Now I have a Tajong!!

Sajen · 3rd May 2010, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

One of the tricks of the trade in the furniture restoration business is to moisten a small pad of cloth with gum turpentine and using car polish you polish off the filth on old french polished, shellaced or varnished surfaces.

You can get a quicker result if you use 0000 steel wool , and also if you use a clean and polish paste rather than just a polish paste, but you then run the risk of going through the finish. Its best to stay with a cloth rubber unless you are sure that you have a thick layer of old shellac or varnish.

The interior timber fittings in many of the historic homes in Australia have been brought back to an acceptable condition by the use of this technique.

Thank you Alan,

I have followed your advice and the result is a great one. Tomorrow I will post some pictures from the sheat; it look beautiful now.

Regards,

Detlef

A. G. Maisey · 3rd May 2010, 03:05 AM

Glad it worked for you Detlef.

Sajen · 3rd May 2010, 11:43 AM

Here the pictures from the cleaned sheat.

Marcokeris · 3rd May 2010, 12:47 PM

NICE work

Sajen · 3rd May 2010, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcokeris

NICE work

Thank's Marco!

Battara · 3rd May 2010, 03:25 PM

I agree very nice work on the sheath - looks completely different!

DAHenkel · 3rd May 2010, 04:25 PM

Detlef, congratulations on your first tajong. Mind you, they're addictive but unfortunately not easy to find.

You have found yourself an example of a fairly early vintage. According to Nik Din's classification system I would say closer to late 18th c than early 19th. In fact I rather doubt that the hilt is original to the sheath because the sheath is, while old, probably not as old as the hilt is. Which isn't saying much since very few of the sheaths contemporaneous to this hilt style have survived. Sheaths were replaced out of hand while hilts were at least somewhat more cherished.

I find the wood used to be most curious as well. It is not at all typical of what was normally used. It looks a bit like a type of wood called kayu jahar, which is a type of kampung wood (meaning it is grown in the village and is rarely found in the "wild"). It is rarely used in kerises although one does find it very occasionally used for the batang of keris or other dagger sheaths. Only the teras (core) is any good - the outer wood is weak and prone to cracking or breaking. I've never seen it used for a hilt before. Whatever it is it clearly is not too resistant to cracking so you should take extra care not to expose it stresses - extreme dryness of humidity, extreme or rapid changes of humidity or of temperature, putting the hilt on too tight etc.

It definitely was carved by a proper tukang though as it is correct in form and motifs but for some long lost reason he chose to use this unusual wood. Looks like a mystery. Some day I will print out pictures and bring them to show Nik Dee. Maybe he will have some insight into the wood.

Sajen · 3rd May 2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I agree very nice work on the sheath - looks completely different!

Thank's Jose, I hope the other parts of the keris succeed in the same way.

3rd May 2010, 11:43 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	Here the pictures from the cleaned sheat. Attached Images

3rd May 2010, 03:05 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Glad it worked for you Detlef.

3rd May 2010, 12:47 PM	#4
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	NICE work

3rd May 2010, 03:25 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I agree very nice work on the sheath - looks completely different!

3rd May 2010, 04:25 PM	#7
DAHenkel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 125	Detlef, congratulations on your first tajong. Mind you, they're addictive but unfortunately not easy to find. You have found yourself an example of a fairly early vintage. According to Nik Din's classification system I would say closer to late 18th c than early 19th. In fact I rather doubt that the hilt is original to the sheath because the sheath is, while old, probably not as old as the hilt is. Which isn't saying much since very few of the sheaths contemporaneous to this hilt style have survived. Sheaths were replaced out of hand while hilts were at least somewhat more cherished. I find the wood used to be most curious as well. It is not at all typical of what was normally used. It looks a bit like a type of wood called kayu jahar, which is a type of kampung wood (meaning it is grown in the village and is rarely found in the "wild"). It is rarely used in kerises although one does find it very occasionally used for the batang of keris or other dagger sheaths. Only the teras (core) is any good - the outer wood is weak and prone to cracking or breaking. I've never seen it used for a hilt before. Whatever it is it clearly is not too resistant to cracking so you should take extra care not to expose it stresses - extreme dryness of humidity, extreme or rapid changes of humidity or of temperature, putting the hilt on too tight etc. It definitely was carved by a proper tukang though as it is correct in form and motifs but for some long lost reason he chose to use this unusual wood. Looks like a mystery. Some day I will print out pictures and bring them to show Nik Dee. Maybe he will have some insight into the wood.