Minangkabau

West Sumatra

 

19th Cent. A.D.

 

Kris

Ivory, Silver, Gold, Wood, Iron

 

Length: 43 cm

Width: 14 cm

Depth: 3 cm

 

Blade: 30.5 cm

 

with Handle: 40.5 cm

 

The ‘cubist’ style ivory handle of this kris depicts a stylized human being squatting on his haunches with his arms folded a top his knees. The diamond-shaped eyes and jutting nose dominate the mouthless face. The flat black is decorated with diamond shapes with v shapes and a stylized four petal flower.  These and the stripes on the ankles probably represent tattoos. Notably a bulging penis can be seen between his legs. The handle rests in a gold cup on a pedestal that is decorated with fine filigree work. The wrangka cross piece at the top of the sheath is of dark brown wood. The upper half of the main body of sheath is decorated in silver the bottom with gold. Both are worked with the same floral pattern bordered by the same four petal blossoms on the back of the handle. The bottom finial of the kris is flared and made of ivory and buffalo horn. Like many Sumatra kris blades this piece is straight and has no damascene pattern.

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