**First Time At Auction**

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. 20th century CE. A pretty example of a short kris with a gilded bronze handle studded with approximately sixty round white sapphires (each roughly 2 mm diameter). The handle curves over at the top, giving it an avian form when viewed from the side; granulation and the inlaid sapphires give it a glittering, textured appearance. The blade is made of sinuous, curving bands of different shades of glittering grey, formed from iron nickel. A gilded tin cover, stamped into a floral pattern on one side, protects the wooden sheath. A pale wood guard protects the distinctive curved upper portion of the blade. Size with sheath: 4.4" W x 12.95" H (11.2 cm x 32.9 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. Kris 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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#126795

Patina on metal surfaces, especially the handle, from handling and age. Most sapphires are still present.