**First Time At Auction**
Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. mid-20th century CE. A beautiful example of a kris (keris), a type of ceremonial sword used throughout Indonesia. The hand-carved wooden handle features a pair of abstract anthropomorphic maskettes along the interior curve, and the nickel-brass spacer bulb is decorated with a silver wash and repousse shapes and beading. The forged-steel blade has a straight profile, a projecting hand guard on one side, and a decorative curl opposite, and strands of lighter nickel material striations throughout are known as wootz or watered steel. The top of the wooden sheath features a dramatically flared guard protector, and the interior wooden blade housing is protected by a removable nickel-brass sheath jacket that has a gold wash to highlight the repousse scrolling foliate motifs. Size (blade): 14" L x 3" W (35.6 cm x 7.6 cm); (in sheath): 19.5" L x 5.5" W (49.5 cm x 14 cm)
Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection
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#138022
Condition
Chips and losses to tip and periphery of blade. Spacer bulb is slightly loose and loss to beading. Wood handle is intact and very good. Patina and toning on jacket sleeve, and removable. Wood sheath below has some abrasions and nicks, but intact and very good.