Dagger

Dagger with straight blade, widening asymmetrically at base and tapering to point; strong, intricate mottled watery pattering (pamor). Hilt of dark brown wood in form of figure with bent head. Deeply carved surface decoration, sinuous openwork elements. Large silver colored plain 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.