19th century or earlier 27.0 (h) x 5.0 (w) x 1.5 (d) cm National
Museum of Ethnology, Leiden This type of Javanese dagger [keris]
is named after Majapahit, the last great Javanese Hindu kingdom
that declined in the late 15th century with the arrival of
Islam. The prototype for this type of weapon, with hilt and
blade created from one piece of tempered metal, is said to have
developed in the Majapahit period. The crouching figure that
forms the hilt, however, can be traced to a much earlier era.
The keris Majapahit is not used as a weapon, rather it is its
talismanic properties that protect its owner.