Description:

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fine example of a personal ceremonial sword known as a kris (keris) with a hand-carved wooden handle and sheath. The handle displays a pair of abstract anthropomorphic maskettes along the interior curve and rests above a nickel-brass spacer with a rope twist decoration. The blade bears a relatively straight profile with an indentation along the shoulder, a projecting guard, and integral ribbons of lighter nickel knows as wootz or watered steel. Below the guard are two crouching figures carved into both sides of the blade. The wooden sheath is a later addition to preserve this cherished blade, and composed of a single piece of wood, highly polished with a projecting guard protector. These prized daggers were passed down through families, and this blade appears more weathered than the wood components, suggesting the blade was from an older kris. Size (blade): 9.5" L x 2.75" W (24.1 cm x 7 cm); (in sheath): 14.5" L x 4.25" W (36.8 cm x 10.8 cm)

Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#149498

  • Condition: Blade is fair condition with abrasions, chips, and pitting. Stable pressure fissure on the wooden handle and surface wear on guard. Heavy patina on nickel and spacer is loose. Blade shows signs of age and may be from an older piece.

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June 15, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000