19th C. Fine Old Indonesian Kris - Wood, Leather, Iron

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. 19th century CE. A pretty, well-aged example of a kris. The handle has a gorgeous, dark wood patina that is almost a dark red in some places, especially near the top. Leather straps, also with a beautiful patina, form the grip. Below the handle are seven inlaid glass beads that look like gemstones. These are inlaid in a silver ring immediately above the sinuously curving blade.

The sheath is wood, with a large protective area in dark wood at the top. It seems possibly that the sheath once had a metal or other protective covering on one side and the bottom, based on the pattern of wear on the surface of the sheath.

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.