Vintage WAYANG Kulit (shadow Puppet) From Java Indonesia
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:2361898 | Region of Origin: Southeast Asian |
| Primary Material: Hide | Product: Indonesian Puppets |
| Original/Repro: Unknown |
Wayang kulit are usually from Java in Indonesia. Kulit means "skin", and refers to the leather construction of the puppets that are carefully chiselled with fine tools, supported with carefully shaped buffalo horn handles and control rods (although the control rods are wooden in the case of our female puppet) , and painted in beautiful hues, including gold.
The puppet performance is one of the oldest and greatest storytelling traditions in th...e world and lies close to the heart of Javanese culture. These flat puppets, are usually made from water buffalo hide, are elaborately decorated and perforated to cast spectacular shadows when used in performances that are usually based on classical literature, usually drawn from the Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, with contemporary issues incorporated into particular scenes, and are always accompanied by a gamelon orchestra.
An art of and for the people, wayang kulit remains a popular and significant form of cultural expression to this day.
Our puppets are male and female. The male puppet measures 71cm in height from the top of his turban to the bottom of his control rods. The female puppet measures 63.5cm.
Together they weigh 155g.
The puppet performance is one of the oldest and greatest storytelling traditions in th...e world and lies close to the heart of Javanese culture. These flat puppets, are usually made from water buffalo hide, are elaborately decorated and perforated to cast spectacular shadows when used in performances that are usually based on classical literature, usually drawn from the Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, with contemporary issues incorporated into particular scenes, and are always accompanied by a gamelon orchestra.
An art of and for the people, wayang kulit remains a popular and significant form of cultural expression to this day.
Our puppets are male and female. The male puppet measures 71cm in height from the top of his turban to the bottom of his control rods. The female puppet measures 63.5cm.
Together they weigh 155g.
