Fine and Unusual, Large Silver Mounted Bugis Keris

Bugis (Buginese) people are the biggest ethnic group from Sulawesi (Celebes) Island. They carry a very typical Keris dagger: Rather short with massive blade, scabbard with somewhat square lines and a pistol grip handle. Sometimes the handle is of Sumatra style like the case here.

The Keris dagger offered here is of unusual blade. Wavy blade with non-symmetrical cross section. Half hexagonal on one face and flat on the other. The entire blade is inlaid with brass (?) Arabic numbers. Probably a local style of Baduh (magic numbers). Massive silver handle (Sumatra style) entirely chased with floral design. Finely pierced silver Mendak. Classical Bugis wood scabbard bound with chased silver bands and silver rings. The top of the scabbard (Warangka) is silver covered and shaped to fit the non-symmetrical cross section of the blade.

Blade length 13 ½ inches (35 cm), Total length 21 ½ inches (54 cm). Very good plus condition. Rare authentic keris dagger. First half of the 20 C.