Accession Nr.: 9634.1-2
Type: religious or cult object; weapons and armament; metalwork; carving
Date of production:
18 – 19th century
Place of production:
Materials/Techniques: steel, wood, bone, carved, forged
Dimensions: length: 46 cm
width: 19 cm
A wavy-edged dagger, kris (Indonesian: keris) with a carved bone human-shaped hilt. The scabbard is made of wood, as is the boat-shaped hilt guard (Indonesian: wrangka kris ladrang), which suggests a Middle Javanese origin.


For the Indonesians, the kris is much more than a simple weapon, it is a spectacular and effective expression of Javanese spirituality, a bearer of spiritual power, a symbol of heroism and a status symbol.