Description

An old keris hilt of the very rare Nyamba style from East Java. It is made of a silver sheet applied over resin.

These hilts are named after a Wayang (shadow puppet) figure of the same name, which represents an aggressive Sivaistic Raksasa prince. One of its characteristics is the wearing of a crown with winged sides called Sumping, and a large ornament on the back of its head called Garuda-mungkur.¹

The type is thought to date from at least the later Majapahit period (1293-1527) and remained popular in East Java for some time after its fall.² This particular one probably dates from the 17th or 18th century. 

Notes
1. Karsten Sejr Jensen; Krisdisk. Chapter 6.
2. Cedric Le Dauphin; Kriss handles from Java. Page 31.

Wax seal

This particular hilt was made into a European-style wax seal, used for sealing letters with hot wax. It bears the initials: 

"L.L."

The owner probably knew how rare this hilt was, to have it made into his or her personal seal.