This book reveals the mysterious world of the kris—the hilts of the traditional weapons of Indonesia and Malaysia, which have long been collector's items. Kris are objects of great beauty—daggers carved, chiseled, or incised by artist-craftsmen with deep knowledge of the symbolism and traditions of their lands. Java, Sumatra, Bali, Madura, Sulawesi, and Malaysia—each island has its own type of hilt, with its own symbolism and magic. Their images range from geometric abstractions to human, divine, plant and animal, and demon figures. They are made from wood, fossil, ivory, gold, and whalebone and serve as a gateway between the visible and invisible worlds.

"What is a kris? If you want to answer that question, several points of departure are available to you. To name but a few: the secrets of the kris smith, the 'proto' kris and its manifold later variants, the position of the kris in Indonesian society, or the krisses in private and public Dutch collections. Practically every kris, whether old or recently acquired, has its own story to tell. Through those stories, the kris contributes to the personal and political relations between Indonesia and Holland.The background information contained in this publication allows you to upgrade your gifts for 'kris determination'. The kris, especially in combination with its socio-cultural context, offers infinite possibilities for discovery. The changing motifs and representations on its blade and hilt reflect Buddhist, Islamic and Western colonial influences. On that level, the kris opens by an unexpected panorama of an ancient society in the process of continuous evolution."--

Originally created in the late 19th century to catalog Indian and Oriental arms and armor for a British museum, this volume has long since become a sourcebook of vital information on the military history of India. Enhanced with excellent illustrations, it remains one of the few books available on the subject, providing factual accounts of events ranging from the earliest invasions of the subcontinent in 200 B.C. to the decline of the Mogul Empire (early 18th century) and the First Burmese War in 1824. In addition to information on military history, succeeding chapters describe Indian swords, helmets, knives, shields, daggers, spears, javelins, blowpipes, sabers, and a host of other weapons, including arms used for athletic and sacrificial purposes. Descriptive notes, grouped according to geographical areas, comment on styles of decoration, manufacturing processes, and ethnological characteristics. A shorter section of the book includes detailed information on Arab and Persian arms (maces, battle axes, matchlock guns, bows and arrows, etc.) and Japanese armor. Students of Far Eastern arms and armor as well as enthusiasts of military history will welcome this comprehensive reference. 350 halftones and line illustrations. 350 halftones and line illustrations.