A burung serindit style kris hilt

COMMENT. Burung serindit is one of the "bird" kris hilt styles, which is distributed mainly on the Malay Peninsula and the Sumatra Island. Such hilts are designed as quite realistic sculptural images of parrots. Actually, burung serindit is the Malay and Indonesian name for one of the representatives of the parrot family, namely the blue-crowned hanging parrot (Loriculus galgulus), which lives in the forested lowlands of Southeast Asia. These beautiful little birds have always been very popular with locals who willingly keep them at home. The word "serindit" literally means "lovebird", because parrots usually lead a pair lifestyle and show a great affection to each other. The kris with a burung serindit hilt is depicted on the emblem of the Indonesian province of Riau, located in the central eastern coast of Sumatra opposite the Malay Peninsula. It symbolizes the struggle and heroism of the Riau people.