Ca. 1900 Indonesian Keris with Very Early Meteorite Blade

ARTIFACT: Circa 1900 Indonesian Keris with very early meteorite blade. The keris features a beautifully carved, pistol-grip hilt/handle and the blade or bilah is forged from iron that was derived from an iron meteorite that fell to earth near the end of the 18th C.; the sheath is wooden with a brass frame. The hilt features a small disc made from copper, silver, and other metal pieces, wires, and beads. This example features a straight blade, it is said that a wavy keris is a naga in motion, aggressive and alive, whereas a straight blade is one at rest, representing dormant power ready to come into action.

VINTAGE: Circa 1900

SIZE: Approximately Hilt/Handle: 4" x 2"; Blade/Bilah: 11-1/4" x 3/4"; Sheath: 15" x 6-3/4"

MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Carved wood, brass, iron meteorite, silver, copper

ATTACHMENT: None.

MARKINGS: None.

ITEM NOTES: This is from an Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese, etc. Indigenous, Ethnographic, Religious, & Tribal collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MCEX14 LAAEX1/16 SAJEX6/16

CONDITION: 6+ (Fine - Very Fine): The blade shows moderate to heavy wear, the tip is slightly bent, the sheath has cracked and one side has been lost, the handle is in remarkable condition, overall very fine example.