Vintage Keris

Information from The Malay art gallery : The most important kris form to originate in the Kelantan-Terengganu-Pattani region ( an area covering the southern tip of Thailand including Kelantan, northern Malaysia). the Tajong. The kris Tajong has, in fact, become synonymous with this region, though examples of similar hilts are occasionally found elsewhere in the Malay world.

A very rare example of a form of keris whose origin is from Patani, aIt’s very unique handle, made of hard wood called kenaung, and is finely and deeply carved in the form called the Tajong. The ‘hulu’ or hilt of the tajong was originally a carved representation of the Hindu god Siva, adapted in a fashion similar to his characterization in the wayang kulit shadow puppet theater. 

The earliest form of the tajong found to date, possibly seventeenth century, is the hulu kris coteng which has a simple, fairly flat head with elongated nose, and clearly defined arms and legs on the body. The arms sometime appear to be carrying a waisted drum, which would appear to be a ‘damaru’, one of the Siva’s favorite attributes.  It has been described by writers from the west as a kingfisher. It is also called "Pekaka" by many in the area, in resemblance to a bird of the same name. Although it does resemble a bird, closer look at the handle shows it to be more of a "demonic" figurine. Its wide eyes and long beak has a kingfisher's resemblance, but the teeth, fangs and beard which are carved in full details, shows otherwise. Through the centuries, with changing worldviews and in particular, conversion to the Islamic faith, these features were gradually subsumed by floral and vegetative decoration. The nose became longer and adopted a marked tilt at the tip, which echoed the lines of its sampir, or scabbard crosspiece. The tajong, in fact, got its name from its distinctive sampir, which resembles the uplifted, winged shape of a Pattani fishing vessel of that name.  

The tajong has often been confused with the ‘pekaka’. The true pekaka evolved from the ‘jawa demam’, with a larger and straighter beak and is often carved from a material such as clamshell whale tooth or walrus ivory.  

The top sheath is made from very well selected kemuning woods with long cylindrical bottom stem made from angsena woods. 

The long, straight and sturdy blade is very typical of the region’s characteristics having a prominent triangular spine or "tulang" in Malay, which stretches from the tip to the base and even present at the "ganjar". The overall shape or dapor is called Pandai Saras in Malay.

Pamor patterns are usually not contrasting, but from the forging lines the arrangements are of the mlumah technique and are of the wos utah or scattered rice variations. The pamor is said to protect enhance the owner's material well being.

Below are two examples of Keris from Southern Thailand.