"Keris" hilt ·  Indonesia - Java/Rajamala · ID: 3033148

Description

wood, shiny dark brown patina, in form of an elaborately ornamented head with beak-like nose and big eyes, min. dam., minor missing parts, on base;
“keris” is a dagger found over a large part of the indonesian archipelago with an almost endless variety of blades, hilts, scabbards and decoration. Present
type of keris hilt was reserved for the caste of warriors and shows the folk hero “bima”. According to indonesian mythology he is the son of the wind god “vayu”, who destroys his enemies with his long thumb nail.

Comparing literature

van Zonneveld, A.G., Traditional weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago, Leiden 2001, p. 67, ill. 239