Antique Indonesian Balinese Sword Dagger Keris Kris with Damascus Steel Pamor Blade

Antique Indonesian Balinese sword dagger keris—kris with superb quality 16th-18th century Damascus steel serpentine-shaped blade with 5 luk (waves). The blade is beautifully hand-forged from meteorite iron in a "Pamor" pattern, showing various layers of the wood grain.

It is mounted in a wooden hilt and scabbard from a later period.

The finely carved wooden hilt depicts the demon king Rāhvana, also known as Dasamuka, the evil antagonist of the oldest Sanskrit epic poems (Rāmāyana).

The wooden sarungan (scabbard) and the large ship-shaped wranka are carved with floral scroll motifs and adorned with a Kala mask on the front.

Because high-quality Keris blades made of Pamor were valuable and never went out of fashion or style, they were part of the aristocratic heirlooms passed down from generation to generation.

They were considered to have magic and imbue magic and power on their owners. So, high-priced, old blades, dating back to the fifteenth century, were still used during the 19th and 20th centuries but were refitted with new 19th or 20th-century mountings.

This was also practiced in Japan when expensive old sword blades were remounted on a new mount and still used in the 19th and 20th centuries.

CONDITION: It is in very good condition, but it shows age and use. Please notice that the pictures in the listing are part of the description of the object's condition.

MEASUREMENTS:

Overall length with the scabbard: 55.5 cm (21.85 inches).

Overall length without the scabbard: 45 cm (17.72 inches).