SINCE it received recognition from UnESCO as a world heritage object, the kris has become a ‘star’ to antiques collectors. However, the once-sacred weapon is now sought not for its mysticism, but more for its esthetic quality and its profitability. Tempo traces the increasingly lucrative kris business, visiting places in Madura where most of these traditional weapons were made and consulting with an empu whose mission is the preservation of these traditional keepsakes.