This gilt bronze hand, attributed to the Hindu-Buddhist sculptural tradition of Java, offers an evocative fragment of a larger sacred image. The rounded fingers are gently separated, with the thumb extending outwards, while pierced, curling scrollwork lends an intricate decorative quality to the palm. The hollow wrist provided a means of attachment to the arm of a larger figure.

In Hindu-Buddhist imagery, a raised hand with the palm facing outwards is associated with protection and reassurance, expressing the dispelling of fear. If originally positioned in this gesture, the hand would have conveyed a reassuring presence to worshippers. The surviving gilding would once have enhanced the figure’s radiance, while the scrolling ornament adds a sense of movement and vitality.

Areas of gold remain across the surface, contrasting with green and blue-green patination within the recesses and interior. These traces of gilding and age enrich the hand’s sculptural detail and offer a glimpse of its original appearance.