Knife called Kriss
Java Island, Indonesia
19th century
Wood, palm, bone, silver, stone
Long. total: 45; Long. blade: 44 cm

Handle, called ukiran, made of carved bone, representing the deity Bhoma.
The double-edged pamor blade is wavy.
Silver mitre with cabochons of semi-precious stones, called a mendak.
Wooden sheath.

The kris is a distinctly masculine weapon. A marker of social status and wealth, it was also the object symbolically given to a young boy who had become a man.
The more intricately crafted the blade and the more the handle was made of precious materials, the higher the rank of its owner.
The ukiran, almost always carved in an anthropomorphic style, is considered an allegory of its owner. Thus, the head represents the hilt, the body the blade, and the garment the sheath. It's worth noting that the traditional garment for Balinese men is the sarong—the same name given to the sheath of the kris.

The kris, endowed with magical powers, is considered a vehicle of spirituality. It is passed down through inheritance, which allows it to increase its power.

Ref.: 7005

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON