The keris traces its origins to the 8th or 9th century on Java, one of the hundreds of islands that make up modern day Indonesia. Since then, this unique dagger has become a deeply rooted and important cultural symbol of all of Indonesia and beyond. Historically, many of the keris are claimed to have blades containing metal from a meteorite, particularly the Prambanan meteorite, which was discovered on Java in 1797. Some keris blades that have been tested have shown similar nickel and cobalt contents as the meteorite, furthering this legend. This example measures 18 1/4 inches overall with a 14 inch wavy blade that shows a distinctive pamor pattern with variations of color. The antique ivory grip is beautifully relief carved with foliage and animals with a jade-colored portion where it joins the blade. The scabbard shows the typical broad carved hardwood upper portion, with the lower portion of brass with extensive floral motifs.

Fine, the blade showing mostly a dark grey patina and some light oxidation with distinctive patterns and a few light nicks in the edge. The relief carved hilt is very good with a few minor chips absent and a few scattered hairline cracks. The scabbard is fine with some minor chipping on the wood portion and the brass showing an attractively aged patina.