Dagger

Dagger with long, very narrow, wavy blade (7 curves), with indistinct watery patterning (pamor). Rusty? Guard somewhat separated from blade. Bent, faceted wood handle (“young shoot in tree trunk”), with two carvings (patra) on the inner side, possibly stylized representations of masks or monster (kala) faces. Metal cup between blade and handle has two rows of beading with a central band of teeth and balls. 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.