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SUMATRAN PANJANG EXECUTION KERIS
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19TH CENTURY SUMATRAN PANJANG EXECUTION KERIS #9958

An exceptional early 19th century Indonesian Sumatran Panjang execution keris, 18th century earlier straight 64cm double edged blade with a central ridge and 2 groves either side towards the top of the blade, decorated mendak at the base of the pierced floral black buffalo horn hilt, the straight wooden 66cm scabbard with 9 groups of wire bands and a horn buntut, Overall 78cm.  99958alo

Long kris such as these are commonly referred to as 'executioner's' kris.  They functioned as status symbols and as a form of regalia for local rulers and sultans. According to Gardner (2009r, p. 27), the usual Malay way of execution was to make the victim squat and the executioner then drove a blade such as the example here down through the upper shoulder near the collar bone, towards the heart. The driving in of the blade would occur either quickly or slowly according to the sentence. The kris was driven through cotton wool or similar so that the blood would be soaked up because only the ruler was allowed to be the cause of blood being physically shed and spilled. Execution by keris was called Salang, that is stabbing with a knife; the executioner was called Pelabayer in Java and Pertanda in Malaysia, the name of the execution keris was Penyalang or Menyalang.

£450.00

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