Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Sulawesi Island, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A fine example of a personal ceremonial dagger known as a kris (also keris) with an abstract avian handle and a castellated brass spacer bulb underneath. The forged-steel blade features a gentle serpentine profile, a projecting hand guard, and ribbons of lighter nickel hammered into the surfaces. The wooden sheath bears a bulky guard protector as well as an ovoid blade housing with a lozenge-shaped bottom cap. Size (w/ sheath): 5.9" W x 17.7" H (15 cm x 45 cm); (blade): 14.5" L x 2.55" W (36.8 cm x 6.5 cm)
Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#137962
Condition
Bottom of sheath likely reattached with light adhesive residue along break lines. Point of hand guard pokes out from top of sheath and suggests either the blade or sheath are not original to one another. Minor nicks and oxidation to blade, with slight bending to handle and spacer cap on tang, light abrasions to sheath, and small chip on one side of blade opening on top of guard protector. Great patina throughout.