Early 20th C. Indonesian Steel & Nickel Silver Kris

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. early 20th century CE. A lovely ceremonial sword known as a kris (keris) with a nickel-silver jacket covering the hand-carved wooden sheath. The wooden handle bears a pair of abstract anthropomorphic maskettes along the interior curve and rests above a gilt brass spacer ring set with 4 faceted glass cabochons. The forged-steel blade exhibits a straight profile with sharpened edges, an L-shaped fuller along both sides of the shoulder, and a laterally projecting hand guard. The wooden sheath has a bulbous guard protector as well as a slender blade housing, and the exterior of the blade housing is covered with a removable, form-fitting, nickel-silver jacket. Size (w/ sheath): 5.6" W x 19.2" H (14.2 cm x 48.8 cm); (blade): 14.3" L (36.3 cm)

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection

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#149480
Condition Report: Sheath jacket is removable. Losses and chips to lower tip of wooden blade housing. Abrasions to sheath, jacket, and blade, with small nicks to blade edges. Great patina throughout.