Hierarchical ranks in the Surakarta keraton

[A. G. Maisey]

Paul, a reading of what I have posted will give you the answers you seek if you match the information I have provided.

As to the motif, nothing comes easy, you need to learn the form of the motifs, this requires study.

Yes, the hilt of a keris may be painted, but it is most certainly not necessarily a matter of "anything can do". Again, there is no magic formula, study and research is required and each case must be analysed separately in accordance with the available evidence.

EDIT

Here is the information already presented, but presented again in a different way:-

Royal family, including a pangeran (prince), a bupati (regent):- white or yellow wrongko ground + red pendok

Pangeran (prince):- gold wrongko ground + red pendok

Penewu ( a man in command of 1000 men):- sea blue wrongko ground + green pendok

Mentri (see post 2):- light green wrongko ground + green pendok

Lurah (see post 2):- natural wrongko ground or grey wrongko ground + dark grey pendok

Jajar (see post 2) :- black wrongko ground+ black pendok

All ranks at a funeral, or a commoner:- natural ground+ black pendok


Hilts can be painted en suite with the wrongko, but they can also be left as natural

Where an administrative position conflicts in rank with a military position, and/or an inherited position (FX:- a prince who is a penewu) the higher position will normally indicate the colour code, but it may not, the colour code in such an instance could be decided on a case by case basis, or a contextual basis.

[Paul B.]

Thanks Alan that clarifies a lot more.

2 Other examples fitted in black pendok and wonder if these are correct or examples of colour code exceptions.

* The Ladrang clearly shows a white base and so a royal piece. The black pendok is replaced, it had a mossgreen one. A red one would be common?
+ The Gayaman has a golden base or what?

[A. G. Maisey]

Paul, what I have provided is correct colour coding within the Surakarta Karaton environment. There is no law that prevents anybody at all from creating and wearing any colours they wish, if those people are not members of the Surakarta Karaton hierarchy.

These examples you are have provided are quite nice examples of sunggingan work, but they do not seem to my eye to be the style of sunggingan dress that I would expect to see worn by a member of the Surakarta Karaton hierarchy. The sunggingan work is reasonably well done, but the motifs are not executed in a way that would permit identification with a karaton rank, and these motifs seem somewhat confused.

The ladrangan might have a white base, or it might have a gold or yellow base, in the photo it appears that the two colours alternate, I have not seen this style of confused colour coding, and I am not at all sure that such a thing is legitimate.

[Bjorn]

It might be useful to post photos of sunggingan pieces with a proven provenance. That way everyone can observe the use of colours - and motifs - on actual keraton pieces.

Now the question, of course, is whether there are people who have such photos available.

[Paul B.]

Alan, what about the first (black base) Gayaman kris. That's a 'genuine' kraton kris as being identified for a Jajar. Would be most interested to know about that one as that is the one from my own collection. The others are not.

[A. G. Maisey]

What did you need to know Paul?

[Paul B.]

If post #4 is done according the pakem rules and if it is worn by a member of the Surakarta Keraton hierarchy.
The handle is a recent (decent) replacement.
Old blade (Adeg pamor) fits flush.