Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. 19th century CE. A beautifully-aged example of a kris, a traditional Indonesian sword. This example has wooden sheath with a broad upper portion that mirrors the form of the blade; the sheath is made of highly polished, dark wood. The handle is separated from the blade by a wide bronze bead with a floral motif. The handle itself is in the form of an abstract bird, possibly a mythical bird as is a common Indonesian artistic theme. The blade is dramatic and its double-sided edges are shaped in repeated, sinuous curves. Comes with a cloth bag to protect it. Size without sheath: 18.1" L x 4.75" W (46 cm x 12.1 cm)

The kris is both a weapon and a spiritual object. The oldest known are from the 10th century CE; they are thought to have originated on the island of Java. The bladesmith, called an empu, forms the blade from layers of different iron ores and meteorite nickel. In high quality ones, the metal is folded dozens or even hundreds of times. Kris were worn every day and in special ceremonies; both men and women wore them. They were passed down through families, and used for display, as talismans with magical powers, weapons, as accessories for ceremonial dress, and indicators of social status. Kris blades are narrow, with wide, symmetrical bases. The aesthetic value has three elements: dhapur, the shape and design of the blade, with 40 variants; pamor, the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with 120 variants; and tangguh, the age and origin of kris. In 2005, the kris became a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection

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#123533

Beautiful smooth, dark patina on the wood from handling and age.