K i n a t a h (Tinatah -- Gold Ornaments in Keris and Tombak)

[ganjawulung]

Some people believed, that wedung was usually used by ulamas. But I'm sorry, I don't have any "direct source" to tell you, what, why and how the wedung is..

Ganjawulung

[VVV]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Some people believed, that wedung was usually used by ulamas. But I'm sorry, I don't have any "direct source" to tell you, what, why and how the wedung is..

Ganjawulung

Here is a written source from Gardner, 1936:

"Wedung is a type of parang worn by chiefs in Java, having a long horn spur to slip into the belt. On state occasions these chiefs may only wear one keris and that at the back; and the wearing of the wedung is intended to symbolise their readiness to cut down belukar (undergrowth) or do anything else their sovereign may require."

Michael

[ganjawulung]

Thanks a lot, Michael

It would be useful to me, if I get the book soon... Thank you, Sweden... (I had a very nice experience, crossing from Kopenhagen to Malmo by the jetfoil more than 10 years ago... Unforgettable!)

Ganjawulung

[VVV]

Ganja,

That's fun because Malmo happens to be the city I was born and grew up in.

Michael

[Marcokeris]

Another gold ornament in keris (the keris isn't mine ) .

[ganjawulung]

Hi Marco,

Where did you get this beautiful keris? The style, probably Solonese. But the handle (hilt) is (wanda) banyumasan. Banyumas is a souverignity state of Solo or Surakarta in the south-western of Central Java. Kemuning werut (the hilt) isn't it?

Ganjuawulung

[ganjawulung]

Marco,

Oh no, not banyumasan. Solonese. Kemuning werut. The kinatah motive in the first wedana (first field, in the bottom of the ganja) is "gajah singa" (elephant and lion). It is a "candra sengkala", figure that mentioning the date of such style of ornament (Sultan Agung, Mataram era). Although probably it was made in the different time... Nice to look at.

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by VVV

That's fun because Malmo happens to be the city I was born and grew up in.

Michael

Yeah, Malmo. Once I watched the Swedish Open Badminton tournament in your city. I just recall one or two names of your good badminton players like Thomas Kihlstroem and Stefan Karlsson, and your black player Christine Magnusson... Really nice place. Not "semrawut" (not in order) like Jakarta... Hope to see you, sometimes. Relating to kerises, of course...

Ganjawulung

[Raden Usman Djogja]

Wouw... wondeful pictures
I have some kinatahs, but none are excellent. Perhaps, because of corrotion. I wonder if any kinatah is still complete for centuries/decades. Perhaps, there is a special treatment in how to protect the kinatah.How? let's discuss and share information?

Sometimes, I have a will to restore the kinatah. But, someday, my acquintance advised me to find goldsmith who, at least, knowing about keris. Still in his explanation, if using heat to inlaid gold it must be careful. the heat can influence to the power of keris/tombak. Especially, in methuk or gonjo. in the area between methuk/gonjo and blede was a meeting point. "It is important part", he added. Perhaps, his approach was more spiritual than rational.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

Wouw... wondeful pictures
I have some kinatahs, but none are excellent. Perhaps, because of corrotion. I wonder if any kinatah is still complete for centuries/decades. Perhaps, there is a special treatment in how to protect the kinatah.How? let's discuss and share information?

Sometimes, I have a will to restore the kinatah. But, someday, my acquintance advised me to find goldsmith who, at least, knowing about keris. Still in his explanation, if using heat to inlaid gold it must be careful. the heat can influence to the power of keris/tombak. Especially, in methuk or gonjo. in the area between methuk/gonjo and blede was a meeting point. "It is important part", he added. Perhaps, his approach was more spiritual than rational.

Yogyakarta's style, is classic style. And Solo or Surakarta's style, is gagrak anyar or new style, modern style. I suppose, Mr Raden Usman is more classic than gagrak anyar. About why, the neighbouring city or Yogya and Solo (only 64 km distance) bear the "opposing style", that was already written by Mr Boedhy Adhitya in other thread.

In my opinion, Yogyakartanese mostly keep the kerises they have, as they are. Changing old kerises is "forbidden" in Yogyakarta. Of course, not strictly forbidden by law. Say it, Yogyakartanese usually doesn't want to change old kerises. So, just keep your keris as it is. The more original the "kinatah", the better. Solo? You may change your kerises to look more good-looking...

Why the kinatah of these kerises in this thread are "perfect"? I just say about my kerises. I dare to say, that the kinatah in my kerises is "nem-neman" or just say it: "gagrak anyar". Even the "garap" or work of art of the kinatah is quite perfect. (But not the wedung, it is worse than the kinatah of the spear and panji pilis in the keris).

Raden, do you still want to renew the kinatah in your keris? Even in Yogyakarta there are some good kinatah maker. Say, there is Nugroho, or Sarju. In Solo, Yanto is one of the best too.

Kinatah is only gold ornaments in kerises. You put off the kinatah from your kerises, surely the kerises are still good looking. Such kinatah art was developping exponentially in the golden era of Mataram, under Sultan Agung (1613-1645). One of the most wellknown motive of kinatah in this era, was "gajah singa" (elephant and lion, as the kinatah motive of Marco's keris in this thread...)

Please, feel free to choose, Raden. Classic style, or gagrak anyar style?

Ganjawulung