Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Madura or East Java, ca. late 19th century CE. A carved wooden hilt of a curved shape, reminiscent of an unfurling fern, carved so meticulously with an ornate decorative program befitting a high kris from Madura. The iconographic program features the most wondrous motif seen on Madurese krisses, the winged horse, once the military trophy of the sultan of Sumenep, set within an otherwise floral/foliage inspired decorative program. According to David van Durren, "The horse recalls a marvelous occurrence from the reign of the legendary Jaka Tule, prince of Sumenep and son-in-law of Brawijaya, the last king of Majapahit. This Brawijaya wanted to add a large iron gate to his palace, but, as it turned out, no craftsman in all of Java was up to this task. Teh Madurese Tule and his foster father Empu Keling, a master smith, had to be called for. Together they executed the impossible task, to Brawijaya's utter contentment. While the two men were still in Java, one of the Brawijawa's horses escaped. No one dared approach the irritable stallion, except for the Madurese guests. When confronted by Tule, the horse became so meek that it kneeled down and looked back at him. This got the prince his epithet and attribute: Kudah Panoleh or 'Horse Looking Back'." (David van Duuren, The Kris: An Earthly Approach to a Cosmic Symbol. Netherlands: Pictures Publishers, 1998, p. 71.) A very rare and special kris handle, so impressive for its artistry, technique, and highly symbolic iconography. Custom stand. Size: 2.5" W x 4" H (6.4 cm x 10.2 cm)

Provenance: Ex- private collection of Ami Brown. Mr. Brown was the owner of the Coca Cola franchise in Israel and amassed a huge and very fine collection of Indonesian Kris's as well as other ethnographic and tribal arts. His collection numbered more than 3000 pieces with many on display during his life in the Ein Harod Museum of Art.

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