Minangkabau

West Sumatra

 

19^th Cent. A.D.

 

Kris

Ivory, Silver, Gold, Wood, Iron

 

Length: 43.5 cm

Width: 13 cm

Depth: 3 cm

 

Blade: 32 cm

 

with Handle: 40 cm

 

18^th or 19^th century

 

A stylized squatting human figure handle carved of ivory sitting in a gold cup with a diamond and loop filigree pattern. Below this is a ring with granulation and below this again a hexagonal tapered stand. The wrangka is carved of water buffalo horn that is brown with steaks of blond color. The entire length of sheath is clad in silver, the upper half with a pattern of swirling foliage, the lower dominated by double angular stripes which also act as borders for a floral pattern. The tapered foot is of gold with filigree and carving. The blade is very ancient but without damascene or curves. The top of the blade is clad in gold.

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