Dagger

Dagger with wavy blade (11 curves), watery mottled patterning (pamor) concentrated in broad median band along length. On short end of guard, two decorative gold patches. Ivory handle, bent at end, in form of seated figure with hands on knees, on plain silver colored metal ring base. Cup between blade and handle has beading top and bottom with a row of inlaid red and white stones (one missing) in between. Askew. One of a class of daggers called kris, defined by the widening at one side of the blade base. Kris are not only weapons but also works of art and objects of mythical, ritual, and ceremonial significance: in 2005, UNESCO gave the title “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” to the kris of Indonesia.