This elegant, three-pronged ceremonial lance head, known as a trisula or trisular, is of damascus steel with pamor, achieved by hammering and folding sheets of molten iron until the resulting blade has a fine, watered appearance. Such pamor designs imbue the trisula with magical powers. The pamor on this example is particularly striking. The pamor is called kulit semangka, Such lance heads were produced by kris-smiths (empus) – a role that combined blacksmithing with Indonesian mysticism. The blades were smithed at auspicious times and with much ritual. The lances were intended for ceremonial display and use in the palaces (kratons) of central Java. Like most krises, the prongs of this trisula are also wavy (luks). The Trisula is a popular tombak (spear) type on Java, but old ones like this one are rare. length of the trisula blade : appr. 20cm (without peksi ) length of the blade with handle: appr. 48 cm length of the complete trisula : appr. 52 cm / width of blade 10.5cm on stand (included aprox 55cm height)