Malay Islamic Kris Dagger, A Fine Stylized Steel Blade With Carved Horn Hilt, The Hilt And Wooden Scabbard are Decorated With Islamic Prayers, The Malay Sub-continent, Probably Sumatra, Indonesia, Circa 19th Century.

Identification Number: 304
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Description

The Kris with a straight blade, the horn hilt and scabbard are deeply carved with the following Arabic Islamic prayers

سبحان الله

“meaning “God is perfect ,Reads as Subhanallah

محمد

Mouhamed

سبحان الله لا حول ولا قوة ألا بالله العلي العظيم الله

Subhanallah La Hawla Wala Quwaaat Illa Billah
There is no power nor strength except through Allah the great

لا اله ألا الله

There is no God but Allah

محمد رسول الله

Mohamed is the messenger of Allah “God”

Condition: Very Good, minor rust and corrosion to blade.

Dimensions:

Overall length 47 CM.
Length of hilt and blade 41 CM.
Width of blade at the hilt 8*9 CM.
Hilt Length 8 CM.

References:
For similar carved and engraved ivory hilt please see:
Kris Hilts, Masterpieces of South-East Asian Art, By Vanna Ghiringhelli, 2011 ISBN 978-88-7439-585-9, please see the north-eastern Sumatran Kris handle illustrated on pages 124 & 125.

For similar straight Keris blades, please see:
Swords and Gaggers of Indonesia, Designed by Bedrich Forman, Spring Books London,
Please see the Keris blades catalogued on pages 26 & 30.

For other similar hilt, please see:
Crescent moon, Islamic Art and Civilisation in Southeast Asia, By James Bennett, the Gordon Darling Foundation, Santos, 2005, ISBN 0 7308 3030 6.
Please see the 19th century Gowa, south Sulawesi Keris at the National museum of Indonesia illustrated in page 55 and the 19th century Malaysian Keris of the museum and antiquities of Kuala Lampur, illustrated in page 22.