Dagger
42-30-364A
From: Malay Peninsula (uncertain)
Curatorial Section: Oceanian
Native Name | Kris |
Object Number | 42-30-364A |
Current Location | Collections Storage |
Culture | Malay |
Provenience | Malay Peninsula (uncertain) |
Section | Oceanian |
Materials | Metal | Wood |
Description | Dagger with small, wavy blade (7 curves), widening asymmetrically at base and tapering to blunt point. Watery patterning (pamor). Hilt is brown polished wood in form of highly abstracted bird. Plain hemispherical brass cup between blade and hilt. 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. |
Length | 29.3 cm |
Width | 7.5 cm |
Credit Line | Gift of Mrs. Morgan Wing on behalf of the Estate of Florence C. Whitney, 1942 |
Other Number | 77 - Collector Number |
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