Dagger

Dagger with wavy blade (9 curves), asymmetrically widening at base. Pronounced, mottled watery patterning (pamor). Very slightly bending dark brown wood hilt, tapering somewhat from black metal covered base, densely decorated with carved beading and scrolls. Flat end. Cup between blade and hilt is plain, with single ring of spaced beads. 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.