Knife Called Kriss - Java Island, Indonesia - 19th Century

Knife called Kris
Java Island, Indonesia
19th century
Wood, pamor, bone, silver, stone
Overall length: 45 cm; Blade length: 44 cm

Handle, called ukiran, made of carved bone, representing the deity Bhoma.
Double-edged pamor blade with a wavy edge.
Silver bolster with cabochons of semi-precious stones, called mendak.
Wooden sheath.

The kris is a distinctly masculine weapon. A marker of social status and wealth, it was also the symbolic gift given to a young boy coming of age.
The more intricately crafted the blade and the more precious the materials used in the handle, the higher the rank of its owner.
The ukiran, almost always carved in an anthropomorphic style, is considered an allegory of its owner. Thus, the head is the handle, the body the blade, and the clothing the sheath. Note that the traditional garment of Balinese men is the sarong—the same name given to the sheath of the kris.

The kris, believed to possess magical powers, is considered a vehicle of spirituality. It is passed down through inheritance, which allows it to increase its power.

Ref.: 7005

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON