Hilt of a dagger "keris" · Indonesia - Java · ID: 3037898
sold
EUR 350
Size
H: 9 cm
H: 3.5 inch
Description
bone, partly dark patina, in form of a half figure with zoomorphical facial features, richly carved with ornaments, min. dam., fine cracks, small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, base;
present type of keris hilt was reserved for the caste of warriors and shows the folk hero “bima”. He is the mythological son of the god of winds “vayu”, with his long thumb nail he is able to destroy his enemies.
Comparing literature
van Zonneveld, Albert G., Traditional weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, Leiden 2001, p. 67, ill. 238