**Originally Listed At $300**

Southeast Asia/Oceania, Indonesia, ca. 18th to early 19th century CE. A gorgeous kris (keris) with an iron-nickel blade and hammered tin sheath. The handle, carved from mammal bone, has a curved profile with engraved linear and geometric motifs and sits above a cup-shaped brass separation disc. The blade has a triangular form that tapers sharply just below the guard with slight serpentine waves. The striated appearance to the blade is a result of an iron-nickel composite being hammered and folded dozens of times over. The sheath has a sturdy wooden interior and a hammered tin covering. The mount clip, in the shape of a swan's head, is referred to as a Dutch mount; Dutch soldiers, during their occupation of Indonesia, would seize kris from the indigenous peoples and wear them as both symbols of domination and for use in combat. Size: 16.625" L x 4.25" W (42.2 cm x 10.8 cm); length of blade: 11.75" L (29.8 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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#126800

Minor wear and oxidation to blade, and minor wear to handle. Top rim of sheath has expected wear and is separated along protruding side; minor dents and wear to sheath overall.