Southeast Asia/Oceania, Indonesia, ca. 19th century CE to early 20th century CE. A kris (keris) with a gorgeous iron-nickel blade and a polished, wooden handle depicting a bald, nude man with a prominent phallus and testes. The blade has the classic form of kris, wide below the guard, with curling tendrils extending from one tapering side. The rest of the blade is in a curving, snake-like form, tapering to a point. A ring of seven red glass cabochons are inlaid in the narrow, round guard, which is made of silver. The wooden handle rises above this, with the man leaning forward, his face apparently a leering mask. The sheath is made of multiple kinds of wood, alternating in color. Size: 7.35" W x 24.75" H (18.7 cm x 62.9 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, formed 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. Krises were worn every day and in special ceremonies; both men and women wear them. They were passed down through families. They were used for display, as talismans with magical powers, and weapons, and as heirlooms, 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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#126796

Light patina from handling and age, but overall the blade and handle are in excellent condition. The sheath has some light scratching on the surface and the guard area is partially separated from the blade area.