Through its extensive network with museums, universities and private collectors Westerlaken Foundation has been able to acquire a kris and a tombak through a private collection in The Netherlands.
The kris and tombak both have specific characteristics that made it able to identify both items towards Puri Klungkung.
One of Westerlaken Foundations objectives is to negotiate, safeguard and help the owners of stolen cultural heritage.
In 1908 the King of Klungkung decided that he did not wanted to be ruled by the Dutch. In a heroic 'fight to the end', the Balinese concept of puputan,the King and the royal family took their own life.
After the death of the family the palace was raided by the Dutch (and as the story goes the locals as well). All valuable items were taken and sent to the Bataviaasch Genootschap in Batavia, the nowadays Museum Nasional in Jakarta. The collection of Puri Klungkung was split up, items ended up in the Museum Nasional in Jakarta, in Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden, the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Some items did not end up in the museums right after the puputan. A good example is the 'offering-box in the form of a winged lion' in the collection of the Rijksmuseum (AK-MAK-280).
Every year we allocate 10% of the combined donations of Westerlaken foundation and Yayasan Bali Bersih towards safeguarding and returning cultural heritage. Specific donations towards this fund can be made as well.
If you want to help, these are the options:
1) transfer to our Dutch bank account: NL88 TRIO 0212.3137.03 (Triodos Bank), stiching Westerlaken foundation, the Netherlands
2) transfer to our Indonesian bank account: 14.500.1126.9657 on (Mandiri Bank), Yayasan Bali Bersih (Branch: Legian)