Hilt for a ritual dagger [keris]

In Java, double-edged keris daggers were symbolically significant beyond their practical use as weapons. While the blade is the most important and sacred feature of a fine keris, elaborate hilts in a variety of figurative and stylised forms are a prominent feature of court dress. When worn tucked into the back of the wearers sash or belt, only the hilts are visible. The shape of this keris hilt appears to represent Garuda, the man-bird of legend.

Text © National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2011

From: Asian gallery extended display label