Cirebon ‘Bima’ keris hilt

The depiction of ‘Bima’ represents an ancestral figure typically associated with the Cirebon region of northwestern Java. The figure is shown seated in a squatting posture, known as ‘Pralambapada’, on a ‘tumpal’ throne. Around his waist, a carved motif of blooming curls evokes clouds and thunder, symbols of fertility, while the rest of the composition remains elaborate. A characteristic feature of this ancestral figure is the pointed moustache, with pronounced curls extending to either side. These hilts occur as early as the 16th century with Banten Sultanate influence, although most known examples date to the 17th and 18th centuries. Based on the wear and patina of the present example, it can be confidently dated to the 18th century.