This is a ‘keris’, an asymmetrical double-edged dagger unique to the islands of Southeast Asia, and its scabbard. This Bugis keris has nine ‘luk’ (waves) and is decorated with a crowned ‘naga’ (mythical serpent) that acts as a protective spirit. Its blade is hand-forged and it has a classic Bugis-styled hilt which is intricately carved with floral, leaf and tendrils accents. This keris is sheathed in a scabbard made from highly figured ‘jati gembol’, a greatly prized wood that come from the burl of a teak tree. The keris is a very important piece of Malay material culture and it is generally believed that the keris originated in Java some time around the 9th century.
