1: A kris dagger with a typical Javanese hilt made of hard dark brown wood with two abstract faces of tutelary spirits. The hilt and hilt ring (‘mendak’) are original and made of copper and brass, firmly fixed to a straight, old pamor blade (pamor = forged from many layers of iron). The wooden sheath consists of a ‘boat’ made of precious wood, crafted in the Yogyakarta style, and is covered along its length with strong silver sheet metal. On the front side, the decorative gap in the silver is attached at the top with a silver inlay with floral decoration.
An attractive kris dagger in the Yogyakarta style with only minimal age-related damage: a minor chip to the hilt and an old, restored crack to the ‘boat’ (glued). Length: 50 cm.

2: A kris dagger with a straight, old pamor blade. The hilt made of light brown hard precious wood displays a rare Java style: carved in relief with floral, volute-shaped tendrils and pointed triangles that point upwards (tumpal motifs). The offset, hemispheric hilt base has an old collection number (‘998’) in black lettering. A small, unimportant chip to the base of the hilt. The hilt ring (mendak) made of sheet metal was probably replaced secondarily at a later date. Length: 44 cm.

3: A kris dagger with a wavy blade featuring seven waves, known as a ‘naga’ blade (naga = a sacred protective snake in Hindu mythology). The old pamor blade has a row of etched (?) symbols in relief along the entire length of both sides, whose meaning is unknown. The wooden hilt is crafted in typical Javanese style, with both faces of the tutelary spirit (like kris no. 1). The hilt ring (mendak) is made of wrapped copper wire and was replaced secondarily at a later date. The pamor blade with its symbols is the interesting feature of this kris. Length: 42 cm.

All three Javanese kris daggers: Yogyakarta type; between the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century. (ME)



Lit.: ‘Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago’ by Albert G. Van Zonneveld, ill. 209, 210, 211, 234, 242.