Dagger

Dagger with wavy blade (7 curves), asymmetrically widening at base. Bold linear watery patterning (pamor). No separate guard piece (ganja). 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. The rings between the blade and hilt are of different colors, one gilded (with tiny beading and triangular prongs) and one brass (with rows of small and large 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.