Determine Front Side of The Pendok

A. G. Maisey · 19th August 2017, 12:54 PM

I have no idea at all which side is supposed to be the front. When in doubt I fit the pendok to a suitable wrongko and see which way it sits correctly.

Bejo, I feel that your pendok is very probably old, 41gm is too light for a recent pendok, old silver pendoks were usually lighter than more recent ones.

Jean · 19th August 2017, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I have no idea at all which side is supposed to be the front. When in doubt I fit the pendok to a suitable wrongko and see which way it sits correctly.

From the pics, Bejo's pendok looks very symmetrical at least on top side so fitting it to a wrongko may not help much.
The 3 reasons wich make me feel that B is the front side are as follows:
. To my eyes the embossed motif is more finely made on side B
. The main motif is framed on side B unlike on side A
. From the pics there seems to be more dark patina & wear near the bottom tip on side A
My personal opinion only...
Regards

Bejo · 19th August 2017, 03:39 PM

Wow. So many nice other pendoks were also posted

Thanks.

In my opinion, side B maybe is the front side. Because the top part of the pendok is quite uncommon for side A. The left part is higher than the right part. From my observation from my other pendok (Jogja and Solo), usually the left part is lower or same height with the right part.

I will try to ask the seller if there are photos of pendok in original warongko.

Thank you,

Best regards,

Joe

A. G. Maisey · 19th August 2017, 10:32 PM

Why guess at all?

That is just a waste of time.

Wait until it is to be fitted to a wrongko then see which way it sits best. Even if it is exactly the same in profile, when fitted to a wrongko there will normally be a difference in the way the top of the pendok mates to the gambar.

If we are trying to fit it to an old wrongko, the pendok will show us how it should be fitted, and then we'll probably need to scrape a bit of wood off the gandar and maybe a little off the gambar --- or alternatively we may need to add some wood, or paper, or cloth, or heaven forbid, some jabung.

If we wish to fit it to an old wrongko, or an old gandar, it will be a complete refit, and then we can decide which way looks best.

If I had this pendok in one hand, and a suitable wrongko in the other, I'd try side "B" to the front first.

Why?

Because only side "B" has a top border, and the back side of a pendok does not need a top border, whereas the front side does.

Why?

Convention.

The one thing I would not do is try to work things out in the absence of a need to use the pendok.

Bejo · 29th August 2017, 01:39 PM

Hello A. G. Maisey,

Thank you for your advice.

Attached is the picture from my seller.

Best regards,

Joe

Jean · 29th August 2017, 09:11 PM

Attached is the picture from my seller.

Best regards,

Joe[/QUOTE]

So it is a Cirebon kris and the front side is A but is it an original fitting? A nice pendok anyway

Regards

A. G. Maisey · 29th August 2017, 09:25 PM

Look at the gap between the opposite ends of the top of the pendok & the angle of the top of the pendok.

This pendok is not original to the wrongko, or, it has been put on back to front.

29th August 2017, 01:39 PM	#5
Bejo Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: East Java, Indonesia Posts: 42	Hello A. G. Maisey, Thank you for your advice. Attached is the picture from my seller. Best regards, Joe Attached Images

19th August 2017, 12:54 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	I have no idea at all which side is supposed to be the front. When in doubt I fit the pendok to a suitable wrongko and see which way it sits correctly. Bejo, I feel that your pendok is very probably old, 41gm is too light for a recent pendok, old silver pendoks were usually lighter than more recent ones.

19th August 2017, 03:39 PM	#3
Bejo Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: East Java, Indonesia Posts: 42	Wow. So many nice other pendoks were also posted Thanks. In my opinion, side B maybe is the front side. Because the top part of the pendok is quite uncommon for side A. The left part is higher than the right part. From my observation from my other pendok (Jogja and Solo), usually the left part is lower or same height with the right part. I will try to ask the seller if there are photos of pendok in original warongko. Thank you, Best regards, Joe

19th August 2017, 10:32 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Why guess at all? That is just a waste of time. Wait until it is to be fitted to a wrongko then see which way it sits best. Even if it is exactly the same in profile, when fitted to a wrongko there will normally be a difference in the way the top of the pendok mates to the gambar. If we are trying to fit it to an old wrongko, the pendok will show us how it should be fitted, and then we'll probably need to scrape a bit of wood off the gandar and maybe a little off the gambar --- or alternatively we may need to add some wood, or paper, or cloth, or heaven forbid, some jabung. If we wish to fit it to an old wrongko, or an old gandar, it will be a complete refit, and then we can decide which way looks best. If I had this pendok in one hand, and a suitable wrongko in the other, I'd try side "B" to the front first. Why? Because only side "B" has a top border, and the back side of a pendok does not need a top border, whereas the front side does. Why? Convention. The one thing I would not do is try to work things out in the absence of a need to use the pendok.

29th August 2017, 09:11 PM	#6
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Attached is the picture from my seller. Best regards, Joe[/QUOTE] So it is a Cirebon kris and the front side is A but is it an original fitting? A nice pendok anyway Regards

29th August 2017, 09:25 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Look at the gap between the opposite ends of the top of the pendok & the angle of the top of the pendok. This pendok is not original to the wrongko, or, it has been put on back to front.