Kacip

A. G. Maisey · 30th November 2014, 08:48 PM

What we have here are Javanese betel nut scissors.

They are called "kacip".

The blades are steel, the handles are silver, they are no longer made, they are ridiculously expensive, and the value of any of the ones pictured here would buy a pretty decent complete keris.

The single one pictured by itself is a figure of Semar, with articulated arms.

The largest and the smallest are pictured together to give an idea of size range.

Sajen · 30th November 2014, 09:38 PM

Thank you for sharing Alan. I also have a decent kacip collection but have it stored somewhere, when I find it I will post some pictures. Nice that you have stained them, I have seen a few with pamor. You show some from Madura, Java and Bali when I am not wrong. And very nice that all still have the silver sleeves at the handles.

Regards,
Detlef

A. G. Maisey · 30th November 2014, 10:12 PM

Kacip made of pamor are new, when these appear to be old, they have been processed to make them appear thus. They started to appear when prices went crazy on these things a few years ago. These pamor kacip are definitely specifically manufactured souvenir items.

We don't really need any inside info , nor special understanding to realise this:- the purpose of kacip is to cut:- steel is hard, pamor is soft. Do we make scissors from hard material or soft material?

Genuine kacip are no longer made.

Why?

Because people have come to realise the physical damage that sirih does and it has simply gone out of favour.

Frankly, I cannot distinguish between kacip from various places, but all of these were bought in Jawa, and most were bought privately from ordinary people, not dealers, some came from Pare and Malang in Jatim, some came from Solo.

None have been stained, nor have they been cleaned, they are exactly as I bought them.

Athanase · 12th March 2016, 04:41 PM

One of my 7 Kacip (6 javanese or balinese and 1 burmese) is very similar to one of yours. It was purchased in the fifties in Jakarta by its previous owner.
But on the internet I have often read that inlaid kacip with lion or horse design have a Balinese origin.

I have not found on the forum more topic about the kacip. I'm surprised because they http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...49205&stc=1are a very aesthetic objects and sometimes very sophisticated.

Athanase · 27th March 2016, 08:02 PM

Another Kacip from my collection, (17cm, iron, silver and brass).
I suspect that at the origin there wasn't the crest brass or silver on the head.

Sajen · 19th March 2017, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajen

I also have a decent kacip collection but have it stored somewhere, when I find it I will post some pictures.

Finally found them!

Sajen · 19th March 2017, 02:56 PM

And here some from India.

Sajen · 19th March 2017, 03:05 PM

And here a very rare one from South China.

mariusgmioc · 20th March 2017, 02:03 PM

Very interesting topic!

I had to check with Wikipedia to learn what Betel nuts are (apparently they are called Areca Nuts and Betel nuts is a colloquial misnomer).

30th November 2014, 08:48 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,704	Kacip What we have here are Javanese betel nut scissors. They are called "kacip". The blades are steel, the handles are silver, they are no longer made, they are ridiculously expensive, and the value of any of the ones pictured here would buy a pretty decent complete keris. The single one pictured by itself is a figure of Semar, with articulated arms. The largest and the smallest are pictured together to give an idea of size range. Attached Images

12th March 2016, 04:41 PM	#4
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 403	One of my 7 Kacip (6 javanese or balinese and 1 burmese) is very similar to one of yours. It was purchased in the fifties in Jakarta by its previous owner. But on the internet I have often read that inlaid kacip with lion or horse design have a Balinese origin. I have not found on the forum more topic about the kacip. I'm surprised because they http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...49205&stc=1are a very aesthetic objects and sometimes very sophisticated. Attached Images

27th March 2016, 08:02 PM	#5
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 403	Another Kacip from my collection, (17cm, iron, silver and brass). I suspect that at the origin there wasn't the crest brass or silver on the head. Attached Images

19th March 2017, 02:56 PM	#7
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,501	And here some from India. Attached Images

19th March 2017, 03:05 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,501	And here a very rare one from South China. Attached Images

30th November 2014, 09:38 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,501	Thank you for sharing Alan. I also have a decent kacip collection but have it stored somewhere, when I find it I will post some pictures. Nice that you have stained them, I have seen a few with pamor. You show some from Madura, Java and Bali when I am not wrong. And very nice that all still have the silver sleeves at the handles. Regards, Detlef

30th November 2014, 10:12 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,704	Kacip made of pamor are new, when these appear to be old, they have been processed to make them appear thus. They started to appear when prices went crazy on these things a few years ago. These pamor kacip are definitely specifically manufactured souvenir items. We don't really need any inside info , nor special understanding to realise this:- the purpose of kacip is to cut:- steel is hard, pamor is soft. Do we make scissors from hard material or soft material? Genuine kacip are no longer made. Why? Because people have come to realise the physical damage that sirih does and it has simply gone out of favour. Frankly, I cannot distinguish between kacip from various places, but all of these were bought in Jawa, and most were bought privately from ordinary people, not dealers, some came from Pare and Malang in Jatim, some came from Solo. None have been stained, nor have they been cleaned, they are exactly as I bought them.

20th March 2017, 02:03 PM	#9
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,873	Very interesting topic! I had to check with Wikipedia to learn what Betel nuts are (apparently they are called Areca Nuts and Betel nuts is a colloquial misnomer). Last edited by mariusgmioc; 20th March 2017 at 03:29 PM.