Dagger

Dagger with narrow wavy blade (7 curves), asymmetrically widening at base. Mottled overall watery patterning (pamor). Bent wooden hilt carved in the form of a mythical demon (raksasa), with what may be either a snake (naga) wound in overlapping coils around his body or a version of the eternal knot motif. The metal cup on the tang between the hilt and the blade has a row of beading around the top.The guard (ganja) has come somewhat separated from the main part of the blade. 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.