Antique Indonesian Balinese Bali Sword Keris Kris W\with12 Luks

A good quality antique 19th century Indonesian Balinese Kris-Keris. The superb quality Damascus steel serpentine-shaped blade with 12 luks ('waves') hand-forged from pamor iron displays various layers of the wood grains pattern.
The blade's base is beautifully sculpted with high ridges and deep grooves with kembang kacang in the form of a stylized elephant trunk.
It comes with a wooden hulu (hilt) of a typical Balinese form, made of a Timoho wood (Kleinhovia Hospita) with naturally occurring contrasting grains from a tree locally known as purnama sadha.
This particular wood was highly valued in Indonesia and was more valuable than silver or gold. It was believed to be possessed by a spirit that shows its presence through dark brown patterns.
The sarungan (scabbard) is made of the same timaha wood, inlaid on the front with an ebony wood strap and a large wranka carved of ebony wood and beautifully shaped in the form of a ship.
Since the high-quality Keris blades made of pamor were valuable and would not go out of fashion or style, they were part of the Pustaka, or aristocratic heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. They were considered to have magic and imbue magic and power on their owners. So, fine old blades, dating back to the fifteenth century, were still used during the 19th century but were remounted with new 19th century mountings. This was also practiced in Japan, when expensive old sword blades were remounted on a new mount and still used in the 19th and 20th centuries.
CONDITION: In very good condition. Showing the age and usage. Please notice that the pictures in the listing are part of the description of the object's condition.
MEASUREMENTS
Overall length with the scabbard: 59.3 cm (23.35 inches)
Overall length without the scabbard: 47.5 cm (18.7 inches)
Length of the blade: 38 cm (14.96 inches)