Keris

Title

Keris

Year/Period

Late 19th century

Region

Probably Sumatra but collected in Negeri Sembilan

Object Type

krises, sheaths (cases)

Material

wood (plant material), brass (alloy), iron (metal)

Technique

woodworking, brass smithing, ironworking

Dimension

Object size: XXXX-04623-001: L38 cm,
Object size: XXXX-04623-002: L30.7 cm

Accession No.

XXXX-04623

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

NLB Type

Cultural artefact

This is a ‘keris’, an asymmetrical double-edged dagger unique to the islands of Southeast Asia, and its scabbard. This Bugis keris has nine ‘luk’ (waves) and is decorated with a crowned ‘naga’ (mythical serpent) that acts as a protective spirit. Its blade is hand-forged and it has a classic Bugis-styled hilt which is intricately carved with floral, leaf and tendrils accents. This keris is sheathed in a scabbard made from highly figured ‘jati gembol’, a greatly prized wood that come from the burl of a teak tree. The keris is a very important piece of Malay material culture and it is generally believed that the keris originated in Java some time around the 9th century.