Antique 18th Century Indonesian Malaysian Malaya Malaysia Islamic Bugis Sword Dagger Kris Keris

Superb quality antique 18th-century short sword or dagger (Kris-Keris) from the Indonesian, Malaysian-Malay Islamic Bugis tribe.
A finely hand-carved bone handle (Hulu or Ukiran) in the form of Jawa Demam, a pre-Islamic deity who is half-bird, half-human.

The blade is made of Damascus steel and has a serpentine shape. It is hand-forged and displays multiple layers of Pamor. The base of the blade is beautifully sculpted with high ridges and deep grooves. The kembang kacang, which is in the form of a stylized elephant trunk, is also a remarkable feature of the blade.

The scabbard made of wood is covered in a silver Pendok, which consists of two distinct parts that are finely repousse and engraved on the exterior with a scrolling foliage and checkering pattern on the reverse. The wooden warangka, in the form of a European sailing vessel, is finely carved with traditional Malay design. The bottom of the scabbard is adorned with a large carved bone finial.

CONDITION: Showing the age and usage, the hilt displays an exquisite old patina with age cracks.
Please see all 13 pictures in the listing, as they are part of the object's condition description.

MEASUREMENTS:
Overall length with the scabbard: 35 cm (13.78 inches)
Overall length without the scabbard: 27 cm (10.63 inches)

REFERENCES:
1." The Invincible Krises 2" by Vanna Ghiringhelli
2. "Kris Gli Invincibili: Kris The Invincible (The invincible krises)" by Vanna Ghiringhelli.
The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned references and a certificate of authenticity.