Dagger and sheath (kris), wooden hilt and crosspiece, straight iron blade, sheath with gold casing, Malaysia or Indonesia, 19th century

Dagger and sheath (kris) with straight iron blade, wooden sheath with gold casing decorated with chased floral ornament and filigree works, gold cup holding garuda wooden hilt.

Given by Sir Richard O. Winstedt, KBE, CMG

Sir Richard Olaf Winstedt (1878-1966), colonial administrator and Malay scholar, educated at Magdalen College School and at New College, Oxford. After retired from Malayan Civil Service in 1935 he was appointed lecturer and then reader in Malay at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

He started as a Cadet in the Federated Malay States civil service in 1902 and was posted to Perak where he studied Malay language and culture. He spent 10 years in Perak and wrote four books in a government-published series called “Papers on Malay Subjects”.

In 1909 he wrote about Malay Industries: Arts and Crafts with a chapter on Malay gold and silver. It was during his time in Perak that he met fellow colleague, R.J. Wilkinson, a distinguished Malay scholar, also a collector of Malay silverware.

In 1912, due to ill health he took home leave and returned back to London. On 11 June 1912 Winstedt lent his collection of 68 examples of Malay silversmiths’ work and weapons that he collected in Perak in 1902-12, for exhibition at the V&A for a period of 12 months. The loan had then been extended and finally Winstedt offered his whole collection to the Museum as gifts in 1958
(museum numbers, IS.28 to 81-1958).

A Kris is a ceremonial dagger from Java and the Malay world. It has either a straight or wavy iron blade. Gold or silver casings on the sheaths suggest they were made for royalty or noblemen. According to Malay custom, a bridegroom dressed as a warrior king and wore a gold-sheathed kris in imitation of a sultan at his coronation.

IS.65&A-1958