Kocet-Kocetan hilt form

Michel · 18th February 2008, 10:00 AM

Page 118 of the new book : The Kris, a passion from Indonesia from Jean Greffioz, gives the following explanation:
The kocet-kocetan style hilt(called kusia in Lombok) were traditionnaly used by priests and religious leaders, and matched with serengatan or sampiran type krisses. The symbolism of these hilts is mysterious and in spite of its appearance, the stylized animal figured on the hilt is not a horse but would represent a beetle. However, some authors are interprating the horse head as a reminiscence of kuda panoleh from Madura, which make senseas the 2 cultures developed simultaneously from Majapahit era.

Alam Shah · 23rd February 2008, 12:40 PM

Hi all,

Looking into Ensiklopedi Keris (see picture attached, from pg. 250). For some hilts, the head does look like a horse. The texts explained that it's a horse head.
Based on examples posted here, there seems to be those that looks like horse head and some that's clear cut a bug-like head.

Could there a hilt transformation, from the bug-like head into into a horse head?
Or could it be, the case where later craftsman, carved hilts without knowledge of the symbolism attached?
Or is there two hilt forms with different head type, a bug and a horse?

Btw, there is a famous keris with a kocet-kocetan hilt, Keris Ki Puspa Wijaya. (see Pusaka Keris, Vol 07-08/2007, pg.61).

Alam Shah · 23rd February 2008, 12:51 PM

Here's another kocet-kocetan hilt from Zonneveld's, Traditional weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, Pg. 67. The head is also horse-like.

VVV · 23rd February 2008, 03:17 PM

Here is maybe a cousin from Madura (next to a regular K-K)?
Does anyone know what kind of bug it is and if there is any symbolic relationship?
It looks a bit like the no 2 in Nieuwenkamp?

Michael

ganjawulung · 1st June 2008, 05:15 AM

Dear Michael, Shahrial and All,

This is just more example on kusia hilt, or kocet-kocetan. I bought this hilt from a senior collector in Jakarta last week. Hopefully, it will be useful to you all...

GANJAWULUNG (Jakarta, June 1, 2008)

Rick · 1st June 2008, 02:30 PM

What is the hilt material Ganjawulung ?
It looks like Cinnabar; is it ?

Very nice acquisition .

ganjawulung · 1st June 2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

What is the hilt material Ganjawulung ?
It looks like Cinnabar; is it ?

Very nice acquisition .

Dear Rick,

It is pure wooden hilts, with good (old) finishing. Looks like Cinnabar (red mercury sulfide, HgS), but really it is made of wood. Maybe a kind of "tayuman" (?) or "tri kanchu" wood.

I got other hilts too from this senior collector, pattani hilts (tajong hilts) and maybe kelantan hilts too. Later I'll post in other thread.

Regards,

GANJAWULUNG (Jakarta, June 1, 2008)

BluErf · 29th July 2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Dear Michael, Shahrial and All,

This is just more example on kusia hilt, or kocet-kocetan. I bought this hilt from a senior collector in Jakarta last week. Hopefully, it will be useful to you all...

GANJAWULUNG (Jakarta, June 1, 2008)

Very nice warm patina, and good carving too. Gosh, it was posted on 1 Jun and I only saw it today; obviously I haven't been checking the threads often enough these days.

One question is - why would the beetle have a horse head?

kai · 30th July 2008, 01:19 AM

Yes, the preying mantis seems to be a wrong identification (possibly based on the weird head of some of these hilts).

Quote:

One question is - why would the beetle have a horse head?

Could it be just a corruption? Those hilts with the horse-like heads seem to be those with less (or hardly any) beetle-like features.

A wood worker in rural Bali will have been acquainted with the actual beetle as well as the pupae. Those hilts shown by Nieuwenkamp (drawn in 1907) are amazingly accurate... However, the stylized head is already evident in the left example. (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...chmentid=26914)

Maybe this was done to symbolize more than a "mere" animal? Similar to other mythological creatures looking like a human/animal mix (e.g. Hanuman)?

Regards,
Kai

18th February 2008, 10:00 AM	#1
Michel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 139	Kocet-Kocetan Page 118 of the new book : The Kris, a passion from Indonesia from Jean Greffioz, gives the following explanation: The kocet-kocetan style hilt(called kusia in Lombok) were traditionnaly used by priests and religious leaders, and matched with serengatan or sampiran type krisses. The symbolism of these hilts is mysterious and in spite of its appearance, the stylized animal figured on the hilt is not a horse but would represent a beetle. However, some authors are interprating the horse head as a reminiscence of kuda panoleh from Madura, which make senseas the 2 cultures developed simultaneously from Majapahit era.

23rd February 2008, 12:40 PM	#2
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Hi all, Looking into Ensiklopedi Keris (see picture attached, from pg. 250). For some hilts, the head does look like a horse. The texts explained that it's a horse head. Based on examples posted here, there seems to be those that looks like horse head and some that's clear cut a bug-like head. Could there a hilt transformation, from the bug-like head into into a horse head? Or could it be, the case where later craftsman, carved hilts without knowledge of the symbolism attached? Or is there two hilt forms with different head type, a bug and a horse? Btw, there is a famous keris with a kocet-kocetan hilt, Keris Ki Puspa Wijaya. (see Pusaka Keris, Vol 07-08/2007, pg.61). Attached Images

23rd February 2008, 12:51 PM	#3
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Here's another kocet-kocetan hilt from Zonneveld's, Traditional weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, Pg. 67. The head is also horse-like. Attached Images Last edited by Alam Shah; 23rd February 2008 at 02:46 PM. Reason: spelling

23rd February 2008, 03:17 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Here is maybe a cousin from Madura (next to a regular K-K)? Does anyone know what kind of bug it is and if there is any symbolic relationship? It looks a bit like the no 2 in Nieuwenkamp? Michael Attached Images

1st June 2008, 05:15 AM	#5
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	KUSIA HILT Dear Michael, Shahrial and All, This is just more example on kusia hilt, or kocet-kocetan. I bought this hilt from a senior collector in Jakarta last week. Hopefully, it will be useful to you all... GANJAWULUNG (Jakarta, June 1, 2008) Attached Images

1st June 2008, 02:30 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	What is the hilt material Ganjawulung ? It looks like Cinnabar; is it ? Very nice acquisition .