Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. mid to late 19th century CE. An iron kris (sometimes keris) with a lovely iron blade and a cream-hued handle, carved from an old deer antler, with incredibly intricate cross-hatch, drilled concentric circle, linear, and octagonal designs. The handle rests upon a saucer-shaped metal guard, and acts as a separation disc between the handle and blade. The blade has a classic form, wide below the guard with tendril-shaped extensions from one tapering side; the rest of the blade has a curving serpentine form, tapering to a point. The sheath is comprised of a carved wooden blade casing with a hammered brass jacket with a faceted near-transparent glass stud with a brass housing for suspension. Size with sheath: 19" L (48.3 cm); length of blade: 13.75" L (34.9 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. 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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Expected wear commensurate with age and use, stable fissures to handle, minor nicks along blade edge, tarnishing to brass jacket, and minor losses to upper wooden sheath area.