Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. late 19th century CE. A lovely example of an Indonesian kris (keris), a type of ceremonial sword. The hammered iron blade features a serpentine presentation and a pointed guard, with bands of lighter material on the surface which are slightly raised and give the blade a rough texture. A bulbous disc made from a copper-silver alloy separates the blade guard from the handle and features four sets of five glass beads in green, red, and white hues. The intricate handle is hand-carved from duyong bone and depicts a delicate series of anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and foliate motifs. The sheath has a wooden interior lining and a lustrous caramel-hued wooden guard protector, and the lower body is enveloped in a jacket comprised of copper-silver alloy with hammered circular and foliate motifs. Size: 19.875" L x 6" W (50.5 cm x 15.2 cm); length of blade: 14.125" L (35.9 cm).

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection

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#137961

Guard protector of sheath not adhered to lower body of sheath. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, small nicks and oil residue along blade, with tarnishing to copper-silver alloy sheath jacket and separation disc, losses to some glass beads on separation disc, and light roughness along blade and handle. Light earthen deposits throughout.