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Dagger

Native NameKris
Object Number:42-30-460A
Current Location: Collections Storage
Culture:Javanese
Provenience: Java (uncertain)
Madura (uncertain)
Section:Oceanian
Materials:Metal
Horn (uncertain)
Length: 46.3 cm
Width: 15 cm
Credit Line:Gift of Mrs. Morgan Wing on behalf of the Estate of Florence C. Whitney, 1942
Other Number:119 - Other Number

Description

Dagger with wavy blade (9 curves), widening asymetrically at base. Blotchy watery patterning (pamor). Wood hilt acutely bent, entire surface deeply and intricately carved. An example 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] 2011. Kris Hilts: Masterpieces of South-East Asian Art.. Milan. Type Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pp. 84-85View Objects related to this Type Citation
[Book] Frey, Edward. 1988. The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World.. Oxford University Press. Type Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: p. 48, Fig. 10 (e)View Objects related to this Type Citation

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