Indonesian kris

Hi!

I recently got hold of an Indonesian kris. I would like to know a bit more about it and maybe find out its value.

It comes with a certificate from Museum Pusaka in Jakarta. The certificate lists the info as follows:

Style: Nagasasra Period: Mataram, XVII Century Damascene: Ilining Warih Waves: 13 Hilt: Madura Ivory Scabbard: Ladrang Solo Length: 35,9 cm Weight Netto: 160 Gram

The blade itself has a snake or dragon motif in gold that is a bit worn but otherwise the dagger and its sheath seem to be in good condition. The only thing I know of its provenance that it has been in one family for the last 30 years and before that it belonged to someone in the Suharto family. Before that it may have belonged to someone in the palace of the Sultan of Yogyakarta.

Tried to search the newsgroups archive and the net but didn't find anything particular about this type of kris.

TIA,

Pekka de G.

Go here: www.vikingsword.com

Look in the Ethnographic Forum Post your question.

Rico

Got any pics?

A lot of the Indonesian kris's were used by headhunters. Perhaps a search on Indonesian headhunting knives would yield some useful information.

Sorry Miki, BZZZZZT !!!!!! You are wrong .

Rico

What makes you think so?

The headhunters and cannibals are generally of the 'fire-hardened stick' level of technology- still. Exceptions like the Batak manufacture their own stuff. The Bugis took heads in the past and are a major group in Sumatra/west Java area- known for their kriss. The head taking weapons have (almost) always come from outside the culture though. The mandau were made in bundles to take to the Dyak, Ifugao and so on- same with parangs, goloks and other kinds of 'agricultural' blades. That's one of the reasons you can see similar blades with widely divergent ornamentation/sheathing/handle. The kris is a consummate blade design. The wavy aspect is for a wide wound channel from a light piece of steel. The curves give a 'drawing cut' aspect to any presentation of the blade to the material to be cut. It slashes out of a straight thrust because the 'arcs' are in the blade itself. There is no other use for the object except to kill people- you can't make peanut butter sandwiches with it. Everything about it is battle business. The composition is very sophisticated. In the early part of the century, before samurai swords were war trophies in the late 40's and 50's, the kris was more highly valued on the world 'sword' market than the katana. Bannerman's in the 20's wanted five times for a kris than for a katana. Good scholarship, Rico; thanks.