Original 18th Century Balinese Indonesian Kris Dagger With Ornately Carved “Glorious Face” Kirtimukha Motif Scabbard Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The Kris or Keris is the traditional heirloom weapon of the various cultures of Indonesia. Each of the Kris using cultures has a slight variation of this weapon. They are a powerful talisman and a symbol of a man’s status in society as well as being a weapon. Kris blades are made using alternating laminations of iron and nickel rich iron to give them their characteristic pattern. The blades are wide at the base, double-edged, and often wavy although most older Kris have straight blades.

The 12 ½” blade on this example (17 inches overall) is made from high nickel content iron, often found in meteorite iron, giving a unique finish known as “pamor”. The iron was crucible forged, much like wootz steel, giving it a lovely laminated appearance on the straight blade. Kris daggers with this highly “wavy” curved ;blade are typical for the island of Sumatra.

The blade is mounted in an ornate brass hilt with colored glass for decoration. The brass handle is a checkered design with a dented in flower pommel cap. All of the glass beads at the top of the handle are still present with a great color and minimal chipping.

The kris comes complete with a very ornately carved wooden scabbard. The throat of the scabbard has a masterfully carved Kirtimukha motif. Kirtimukha is the name of a swallowing fierce monster face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, very common in the iconography of Hindu temple architecture in India and Southeast Asia, and often also found in Buddhist architecture.

Unlike other Hindu legendary creatures, for example the makara sea-monster, the kirtimukha is essentially an ornamental motif in art, which has its origin in a legend from the Skanda Purana and Shiva Purana – Yuddha khand of Rudra Samhita.

This is a wonderful example and comes more than ready for further research and display.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 12 1/2”
Blade Style: Double Edged Wavy “Kris”
Overall length: 17”
Scabbard Length: 17 3/4”