ID Number

Title

Item Name

Culture

Material

Manufacturing Technique

Place Made

Date Owned

Owner

Acquisition Date

Source

Source

Measurements

Condition

Accession Number

Cultural Context

Theatrical performance.

Description

Three-dimensional male humanoid puppet: large head (part b) fits into body with skirt (part a), and a control rod (part c) with a long shaft that passes through the body and fits into the neck of the figure's head. The body has jointed arms, each with a long controlling rod attached. Cream coloured face with straight, pointed nose. White eyes with black pupils, closed red lips. Black hair, moustache, facial details. Large black upswept curl (gelung supit urang) with green and red Garuda Mungkur (short tongue). Gold, green, red and white diadem, lungsen, and dawala. Single gold siyung jawi. Long black hair in six curls. Gold neck and body; each arm has two green, white, and red ornaments at wrist and bicep. Hands held flat and bent back at wrist. Long purple chest covering and apron with white wavy trim, wrapped wire and sequin patterns. Apron has black waistband and long yellow fringe at bottom. Long, off-white batik skirt with brown and lavender decorations.

History Of Use

Javanese puppetry as an art form probably developed by the 11th century C.E. Wayang golek puppets of western Java appeared during the 16th century C.E. 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. A dalang (puppet master) performs the plays to celebrate important occasions, usually in three acts, with vocal and instrumental accompaniment. Typically they serve a moral and religious purpose, and more recently, one of political commentary. Satria Gondrong is found in all play cycles; he is recognized by his hair, and his name translates as (approximately) 'knight of the long hair'. This puppet appears to be a variation from the standard; variations exist for many important puppets. They are different to denote changes in state or mood. The variation of the knight here may represent him in his youth, when he was less prone to aggressiveness (i.e. less hair, cream coloured skin).

Iconographic Meaning

Each puppet is characterized by its wanda, a Javanese word which describes the specific mixture of elements of size, form, colour, ornamentation and carving. Facial position suggests virtue; cream colour is an intermediary between white and pink, suggesting a slight tendency to assertiveness or aggressiveness . Facial details and elegant body are refined. Gold skin, hand position, arm ornaments, batik and headdress with Garuda indicate high nobility. Headdress and long hair identifies character as Satria Gondrong; variations, however, in cream coloured face (rather than pink), and fewer hair curls.