Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. late 19th to mid 20th century CE. A collection of five hand-carved wooden handles for a ceremonial sword known as a kris (also keris). Each has a slightly curved profile and anthropomorphic features. The first handle features a Pangulu-style hilt carved from tiger eye wood in the form of an abstract bird's head. The second has a Jawa Demam head carved from a dark wood in a relatively abstract form. Jawa Demam represents a deity that is half bird and half human with a large upturned nose. The next is carved from a honey brown colored wood in the form of a Barong, a lion-like creature with a dramatically inclined head, wavy locks, and intricate floral robe. The fourth handle is another dark tiger eye wood with two abstract maskettes along the interior curve. The last handle is a dark wood, showing nice age, with an abstract form of another Barong, with intricate scrolling motifs that might represent his long flowing hair or robes. Size of Jawa Demam handle: 3.5" L x 1" W (8.9 cm x 2.5 cm); 5.125" H (13 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ami Brown collection, New York City, USA, 1950-1970

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#163003

Stable pressure fissures and cracks. Large fissures across dark Barong handle. Nicks and abrasions to high pointed areas of all. Nice patinas.