JAVA Kris

Type: Keris
Classification: Weapons
Name: JAVA KRIS
Time Period: Wilah / Blade (16th Century), Warangka / Hilt (19th Century)
Where it was made: Java, Indonesia
Materials: Wood, steel, gold and brass
Full length: 51 cm; Blade length: 38 cm

C0llection:
The JORGE CARAVANA Collection
Museu de Évora
Largo Conde de Vila Flor
7000-804 ÉVORA, Portugal


Descriptions:

This Kris, datable to the 16th and 19th centuries comes from Java in the East Indies. It has a straight, double edged blade in watered steel, with a beautiful and unusual pamor, or pattern, known as Dapur Lurus meaning “running waters”. It shows two Ganesha trunks one facing the other – a double Telale Gadjah, which is also unusual.

The ganjah, or blade’s base, is chiselled in basse-relief with a floral motif decoration covered in gold. This type of complex blade is known as Dapur Jalak Ngore.

The gandar or scabbard, topped by the wrangka or ship, shaped like a Chinese ship – ladrang, it has a pendok, or long part of the scabbard, in profusely decorated with a single pattern of chiselled vegetal motifs in high-relief.

The hulu, or hilt, made of wood has the Surakarta shape, typical from the island of Java.

Bibl.: Cameron Stone, 1999, pp. 382-394, fig. 481/7