PAUL'S KERIS PAGE

Hilt Rings

A unique part of the hilt section of a keris is the ring or cup
that comes between the hilt and the blade.  In Javanese pieces, the ring
and cup are separate pieces, although sometimes they are glued or
welded together. The ring is called mendak, while the cup is called selut.
The mendak and selut can in itself be a work of art. The highest quality
are embedded with precious stones and made from gold. The same 
practice applies to Balinese pieces

The Malay version is called the  Pendongkok. It usually comes in one 
piece either as a flat cup or a cup with the stem fixed to it. Pendongkoks 
come mainly in brass or silver, sometimes ivory. Again the high quality is 
made from gold but this rare because of adat restrictions. Most "gold" 
pendongkok are actually gilded silver. Many are decorated with granules
and filigree. Seldom do we see one with precious stones like that of
Bali and Java.

The rings and cups symbolises the lotus; a link to the 
Buddhist past of the Malay people. It is common practice in the 
Malay and Sumatran Pendongkok to find  lotus motives used as 
decoration and the pendongkok itself decoratively divided into 
eight panels or sections, a stylised version of the eight petal 
lotus.

There is a purpose to the rings. They are constructed to provide
gradual incline tapering towards the base of the blade. This allows for
a comfortable grip of the keris for the forefinger and thumb, facilitating
the effective handling of the weapon.

Click on where you want to go

1.  The Keris - Forward & Contents

2.  The Keris - An Introduction

3.  The Blade

4.  Details of the Blade

5.  Dapur

6.  Pamor

7.  Pamor Types

8. The Hilt, Sheath and Other Fittings

9.  The Hilt

10.  The Hilt Rings

11. The Sheath

12. The Mystical Aspect

13. Why I like the Keris...A technical and Cultural View

14. References

GALLERY

LINKS

Keris Cleaning During Muharram

THE Friends' Gallery

If you want to talk keris mail me at :
dspf@pacific.net.sg