This is a beautiful early to mid-20th Century Malaysian kris. The Kris or Keris is the traditional heirloom weapon of the various cultures of Malaysia and 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 190mm blade has five ‘luk’ (waves) and is in form a known as 'Pandawa Lare'. The damascene pattern (pamor) is a style known as 'Raja Abala Raja,' showing long, flowing waves within the metal. The guard at the base of the blade has a protruding section that shows stylised waves, opposite of which is the stylised representation of the mouth of a Naga, a mythical snake-like being. The blade is in very good condition.
The honey-coloured Timoho wood hilt is carved in the shape of Jawa Demam, a deity known as "Garuda" from Malaysia’s’ pre-Islamic period. The grip is in great condition and the blade is held firmly within the hilt.
The Timoho wood scabbard is in very good condition, with a small (old) repair along one edge. The rectangular top of the scabbard has slightly upturned tips and the blade sheathes smoothly and is held firmly within.
This is a well-made kris dating to the first half of the 20th Century.
