Dagger
| Native Name | Kris |
|---|---|
| Object Number: | 42-30-370A |
| Current Location: | Collections Storage |
| Culture: | Javanese |
| Provenience: | Java (uncertain) |
| Section: | Oceanian |
| Materials: | Metal Wood |
| Length: | 38.5 cm |
| Credit Line: | Gift of Mrs. Morgan Wing on behalf of the Estate of Florence C. Whitney, 1942 |
| Other Number: | 66 - Other Number |
Description
Dagger with wavy blade (7 curves), the surface of which is dark and rough: watery markings (pamor) obscured. Gaps between guard and blade. Bent, faceted dark wood handle (“young shoot in tree trunk”) with two carvings on the inner side, possibly the stylized representations of masks or monster (kala) faces. Small protrusion at top of upper carving. Brass ring between blade and handle has double ring of beading at bottom, ring of larger beads at top, with clusters of 3 and 4 beads in between. 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.
Bibliography:
| [Book] Frey, Edward. 1988. The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World.. Oxford University Press. Type Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pp. 49 (Fig. 11a) and 52 | View Objects related to this Type Citation |
| [Book] Groneman, Isaac. 2009. The Javanese Kris.. C. Zwartenkot Art Books - Leiden and KITLV Press. Type Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: 186 | View Objects related to this Type Citation |
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