Dagger
| Object Number: | 42-30-446A |
|---|---|
| Current Location: | Collections Storage |
| Provenience: | Java |
| Section: | Oceanian |
| Materials: | Metal Horn (animal part) |
| Length: | 37.5 cm |
| Width: | 5 cm |
| Credit Line: | Gift of Mrs. Morgan Wing on behalf of the Estate of Florence C. Whitney, 1942 |
| Other Number: | 154 - Other Number |
Description
Single-edged steel blade with straight back and cutting edge recurved to sharp point. Back of blade extended to wide socket into which facetted wooden grip fits. Top of blade at right angles to socket and deeply notched in several places. One of a class of daggers called kris, defined by the widening at one side of the blade base. Kris are not only weapons but also works of art and objects of mythical, ritual, and ceremonial significance: in 2005, UNESCO gave the title “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” to the kris of Indonesia.
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