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Iconographic Meaning

Batik skirt and tight fitting blouse may denote a noble character. Although the role of this puppet is obscure, the clothing and headdress indicate that this puppet may play the role of a prince, minor official, or administrator. Lump at back of head usually associated with the Punakawan, clowns of the wayang.

Cultural Context

Theatrical performance.

Description

Three-dimensional wooden humanoid male puppet. Wooden body (part a) with a carved head (part b), and pointed rod (part c). Face is red with a heavy black moustache, and protruding white teeth. There are white irises in eyes, and black pupils. There is a green headdress with red dots and bun at back. The wooden body has red moveable arms. There is a light brown, long-sleeved v-neck blouse with dark blue collar, painted black neck detail, and sash. Blouse is close-fitting, soiled and mended. Batik skirt of blue, purple, red, light brown, and yellow.

History Of Use

Javanese puppetry as an art form probably developed by the 11th century. The three-dimensional wooden wayang golek puppets of western Java, which are to be distinguished from the earlier and more sacred wayang kulit shadow plays puppets or other forms, appeared during the 16th century. Originally the plays depicted Javanese mythology, but after the Indian conquest of Java the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, were incorporated into the cycles, which comprise about 200 plays. An individual or group hires a dalang (puppet-master) to celebrate important occasions. The performances often last all night and are generally presented in three acts, with vocal and instrumental accompaniment. The individual plays vary widely in detail but usually involve conflict between good and evil. They serve a moral and religious purpose, and more recently, one of political commentary. Each puppet's character is represented by its appearance and placement onstage; protagonists with strong elements of good are placed to the right, antagonists of violent or evil nature to the left. As a relatively good or honourable character this puppet would likely be placed to the right of the stage, although enough traits associated with evil are shown to allow its appearance to the left, for instance, in the employ of evil characters.