Keris close up

Coteng of different sizes

I have thought that the size of Coteng is often small and handy. However, following my latest find, I ah e realized thatbinfact, Coteng has various sizes.

In fact, it is almost the same length as the Tajong.

Coteng Coteng Coteng

1Today is a special day as Habib has managed to help me find two more Coteng from The Southern Thailand

Tajong versus Coteng Keris

Comparing the size, it is no wonder that there are some collectors who speculated that the Coteng Keris perhaps were made for youth or women ....

This is the original home of the Coteng.

The Coteng Keris

The Coteng Keris

I have been collecting Tajong Keris for a while now with a clear focus on Keris from Southern Thailand / Northern Malaysia. I love the Tajong as it has its unique features. A less common variant of the tajong type is the keris coteng (pronounced choteng) which originates from the ethnic Malay region of Songkhla, one of the northern-most ethnic Malay state of the Peninsula.  As I read more from the net, I began deeply attracted by the rare Coteng. With my strong LOA, I am glad that Habib is able to help me find a vinatge Coteng.

From a far, one can mistaken the Coteng to have many of the same features as the tajong but are still quite distinct.  Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the coteng is the lack of a beard. From the information from the Internet,  it is suggested that the coteng may in fact represent the female form of this hilt type to explain the lack of a beard.  The coteng I have is somewhat smaller overall than the tajong and more commonly have metal silver fittings on the sheath and smaller, thin straight blades. 

My friend Habib who helped me to find the rare vintage Coteng.

I am a happy man with my favourite Keris. 

Keris from Patani

With the help from Habib, my love for Keris Tajong continues with this new addition. Even though it looks similar at one glance with the previous one,there are differences in the design of the Hulu. I was told that even for the Tajong, there are five different designs...

Restored Keris

I find it very strange only started to gain contact with the Keris in Thailand despite staying in Singapore and visited Malaysia many times in the past. My vintage Keris collection has started to gain momentum and I began to find a direction to start focusing on collecting Keris from the Southern Thailand or Norther Malaysia consisting mainly the Tajong and hopefully a Coteng. I am blessed being able to find such rare Keris with the help from Habib and I hope I could do my small part in preserving the culture of the Keris from the Patani region.

I have sent my Keris to The Malay Art Gallery for cleaning and restoration and it was a job well done!

Keris shop at Chatuchak

My weekend favourite shops to visit run by Habib..