Dagger

Dagger with half straight, half wavy blade (3 shallow curves), asymmetrically widening at base. Bent, faceted wood hilt (“young shoot in tree trunk”), with two carvings on the inner side, possibly the stylized representations of masks or monster (kala) faces. Crack at bottom.The metal ring between the blade and the hilt has bands of balls, prongs and beading. One of a class of daggers called kris, defined by the widening at one side of the blade base. Kris are not only weapons but also works of art and objects of mythical, ritual, and ceremonial significance: in 2005, UNESCO gave the title “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” to the kris of Indonesia.