A gold-mounted dagger (kris) and scabbard, Malaysia, 19th century

Originally from Java, the kris is a most distinctive dagger, and spread throughout the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and many of the smaller islands. The origin can be traced back to the fifteenth century, and examples are depicted in early stone sculptures. Kris are thought to have magic powers to fly at night to kill enemies and one could stab a man’s footprint in the sand to cause death. Most islands and regions have their own characteristic style with the blade either straight or wavy, as seen here. Each blade is made by combining iron and steel forming layers, to create a distinctive pattern (pamor). The hilt of this kris is finely engraved in the form of a bird-head, most usually referred to as a jawa demam. Sometimes hilts and blades from different areas are combined to form a personalised weapon. The kris was a fundamental part of the outfit of a warrior, who could wear up to three at one time: his personal kris (worn on his left and used for fighting) and two representing his family (worn on his left). During times of peace only one personal kris was worn, usually on the right, and was part of the court regalia; to appear without one was considered a high offence. The largest collections of kris are now in the Batavia Museum, Jakarta and the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

An example with a very similar hilt is published in R. Hales, Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour, A Lifetime’s Passion, London, 2013, p.124, no.301, and another dagger with comparable scabbard and decoration is in the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (inv.no. 1998.1.3927, published in I.F. Mohammad et al., Keris, Power and Identity, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, 2022, Kuala Lumpur).