Our Collection

We are proud to offer 31 lots of Krisses from Indonesia over the next couple of weeks. All the Krisses in this exceptional selection are generally ceremonial pieces, being intricately designed and some highly decorated with gemstones and precious metals. In superb condition, they are extremely rare and seldom seen or offered even at major auction houses.

THE KERIS (or Kris)

The Kris is a distinctive, asymmetrical dagger indigenous to Indonesia and the Malay World for at least 500 years. It is widely spread in the Archipelago, but has its origin in the island of Java. A Kris is typically a sheathed short sword or heavy dagger with a wavy blade and knobby hilt bent at about the middle to provide a pistol-like grip.
Unlike other daggers, it can be distinguished by the unusual widening of the blade just below the hilt. Both edges and tip are kept sharp and a damascened pattern – which in ancient times acquired a talismanic reputation – is normally embedded on the blade’s body. The pattern probably originated in Java where meteoric iron was used by the early kris makers. Even when purer iron was available, the ironsmiths continued to incorporate a proportion of meteoric iron into the blade to maintain its mystique.
It is associated with special power due to its blade pattern welding (pamor) and shape (dapur).
Javanese and Malay people believe it is inhabited by a spirit, and the choice of a good Keris goes with a thorough knowledge of the power, the magic and the wealth of each pamor and dapur to match your personality and needs. Some Keris are transmitted from generation to generation as pusaka (heirlooms).
A Kris region of origin can be identified by its hilt, sheath and blade.
Both a weapon and spiritual object, a Kris is often considered to have an essence or presence, with some blades possessing good luck.
A Kris was worn everyday and at special ceremonies, with heirloom blades being handed down through successive generations. Yearly cleanings, required for as part of the spirituality and mythology around the weapon, often leaves ancient blades worn and thin. In everyday life and at events, a man usually only wore one Kris.
The Kris-smiths, called Empu (for those highly skilled smiths in the employ of Kratons (palace), who can pass down their title of Empu to their sons) or Pandai Keris (for smiths of varying skill levels, working outside of Kratons). Only the highest rajas (king/sultan/royals) were permitted to make and carry Krisses decorated with gold motifs.

Provenance

This Kris was bought in the 60s by the Dutch collector Adrien Noe who lived in Jakarta and Bali since the 1950s.
Most of the Krisses in the collection were reputedly sold to him by Jimmy Pandy the most noted antique dealer in Bali after WWII.
Many other Krisses were obtained by Noe in Karangasem from Anak Agung Djelantik the heir of the Lombok throne whose father was a powerful vassal of the Lombok regent during the wars with Holland in the 1960s.
Noe had houses on Sanur Beach / Bali.
Noe, who was an avid collector of Krisses and other Indonesian art, passed away in the late 90s. Because of illness and the wish to simplify his life he began selling some of his better pieces privately in the early 90s.
It and many other pieces from his extraordinary collection were sold by Noe in the early nineties when he sold his house in Bali.
We bought this Keris directly from Adrien Noe in 1995.
The remainder of his extensive collection was sold in the auction by Christie's in Jakarta by the Achianus Noe Foundation on 8 – 9 February 1996.
Similar examples can be found in a number of ancient collections including the royal family of Holland, the National Museum in Jakarta and the several Dutch museums.



Item no. 260 0028






Description : Kris Wood, Buffalo Horn, Silver, Iron
Origin : Bengkulu, Suamtra
Age : 19th Cent. A.D.
Dimensions :
  • Length: 65 cm
  • Width: 12.5 cm
  • Depth: 5 cm
  • Blade: 53.5 cm
  • with Handle: 64 cm

Weight : 520 grams
Price : US$12,950

Such long thin krisses are sometimes identified as ‘executioner’ krisses, because they were supposedly used to execute those sentenced to death. Although intriguing such sensational stories were probably the creations of early European visitors than true. Although probably originally based on the human body, the form of the buffalo horn handle shows no trace of its original source of inspiration. This process was probably the result of Sumatran society adjusting to the strictures of the new religion Islam which forbids the depiction of humans or animals. Nevertheless the large stylized lotus blossom on the top belies Sumatra’s Hindu-Buddhist past. The entire surface of the handle is covered with flower and tendril scrolling carved in three dimensions. It sits in a silver cup with a scalloped design. Both the wrangka and lower sheath are made of black ebony wood to which decorated bands of silver have been attached. These also function to hold the two pieces of the sheath together. The ancient blade is long and straight and like most Sumatra krisses shows no damascene work.

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