Cuspidor

[Sajen]

One question I have by this: how is this double headed peacock called and have it a special background?

[A. G. Maisey]

This bird form is an element of design in a number of motifs, you will find variations of it in many of the semen motifs such as semen merak, semen wregu, and semen lungka.

Each motif is made up of various elements, and I do not know the name of each individual element in each traditional motif. There are hundreds of traditional motifs, and even more design elements within each motif. The naming of each design element, and any story attached to that design element would be a very specialised field of study, and one that I have not seen illuminated even in specialised texts on the subject.

The other notable design element in this cuspidor is the repetitive triangular tumpal motif.

Probably the best references for Indonesian design motifs are books dealing with batik.

The tumpal motif is said to represent plenty, by its association with the pyramid rice mounds at slametans --- it is a very old motif, and the various semen motifs are symbolic of a garden.

[Sajen]

Thank you Alan. This is a adequate answer.

Regards,

Detlef

[fernando]

Hi guys,
I saw the thread title and just popped in to show surprise (and joy) in knowing how this thing is called; cuspidor is a pure portuguese term and means ... spitter.
Sorry to have bothered you if you already knew it; i didn't .
Fernando

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by fernando

Hi guys,
I saw the thread title and just popped in to show surprise (and joy) in knowing how this thing is called; cuspidor is a pure portuguese term and means ... spitter.
Sorry to have bothered you if you already knew it; i didn't .
Fernando

Hi Fernando,

it is a spitter! When you chewing betel it is like you use chewing tobacco, you have to spit every time.

Detlef

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody,

Just at a cursory glance:

- the Soenda refer to the spitoon above as: tampolong/pangloedahan/pangidon.

- the wajang motif: Gatot Katja/ Ghatot Kacha, son of Bhima.

- the peafowl motif: Karonsih (actually represents a pair of peafowl making love, symbolising the legendary lovers Galoeh Tjandra Kirana & Pandji Asamara).

- other motifs look like those on batik ( I seem to recognise a potatoe one).

Best,

[asomotif]

In dutch we call this kwispedoor, which is derived directly from the portugese word.
Sailors from the VOC picked up this habit from the portugese in the orient.

[David]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

- the peafowl motif: Karonsih (actually represents a pair of peafowl making love, symbolising the legendary lovers Galoeh Tjandra Kirana & Pandji Asamara).

The only applicable reference i could find to the word "Karonsih" was that it is the name of a dance dedicated to these two lovers. Here is a video of that dance. There is a Dutch explanation that i can only understand part of, but i don't see any reference to peacocks. Perhaps our Dutch speakers can find some clues in it. That said, the movements and costume of the princess has some elements that could remind one of that bird.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jk_aPgcNIo