Indonesian dagger, so-called kris or keris (Indonesian, Malayan) from Java with a slightly wavy pamor (damascening pattern that develops through the forging of several layers of iron and nickel) blade. The waves on both sides of the blade form seven visible notches, probably it was a blade with nine notches but they have straightened over time because of steady treatment/etching. The blade has a straight, separate cross piece ("ganja") and a thickened ricasso ("gandik") at the base to which a small, blunt hook is attached ("jalu memet"). Above, towards the blade, there is a further small hook (elephant's lip, "lambe gajah") that is in turn surrounded by a thin, curling, so-called "telale gajah" or "kembang kacang" (elephant's trunk). At the base, there is an immersion (so-called "pejetan"). In between the cross piece and the handle there is a copper ring ("mendak") in the Javan "parijoto" style with spherical and prongs ornaments.
The wooden handle is decorated with rich carvings, which depict plant and tendril ornaments and a bird-like figure.
The kris expands massively in Southeast Asia. The daggers were worn in the war but had also a spiritual meaning. Moreover, the quality depends on the social status of the owners.
The Ulm legal assistant Eugen Braitinger (1880 - 1941) committed the kris together with another one to the museum probably after 1923.
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