Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. mid-20th century CE. A beautiful kris (also keris) sword with a brass sheath jacket and flaring wooden guard and hilt. The hand-carved wooden handle has a pair of abstract anthropomorphic faces along the interior curve, and the 64% silver spacer disc beneath is inlaid with red glass cabochons and white sapphires. The blade has a straight profile, and the steel has lighter waves and veining due to nickel content and the resulting patterning is known as wootz or watered steel. A brass sheath jacket covers the slender blade housing beneath a flaring guard protector- one side of the brass is repousse interlacing patterning, and the other is scrolling foliate motifs and the initials "PB" at the top. These prized weapons were passed down through families, and this blade appears more weathered than the wood components, suggesting the blade was from an older kris and lovingly refitted with a handle protector sheath. Size in sheath: 19.5" L x 8" W (49.5 cm x 20.3 cm); blade: 13" L x 2" W (33 cm x 5.1 cm); silver quality: 64%

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection

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#137990

Fair condition. More modern components added, including brass sheath and cloth sleeve. Wood sheath guard is not attached. Losses to steel blade. Brass sleeve is fitted over older wood sheath.