The main parts of a keris are its blade, sheath and hilt. Each part helps to characterize the keris in terms of origination, era, owner, and symbolism. The blade is the most valued part, in that it holds the sacred power of the keris. There are two main constituents of the blade: the pamor (the damascene design on the blade) and the dapur (the shape of the blade). A combination of metals is used in the making of a keris. Keris smiths make different blends of iron, steel, nickel and sometimes meteorite. The Javanese consider kerises made with meteorite to be particularly powerful. The meteorite is obtained from a meteor that fell in Prambanan, central Java, in 1729.

Object of the Month
Science Museum of Minnesota