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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. White face positioned downwards: delicate eyes, other facial features outlined in black. Red lips and white teeth. Large curl (gelung supit urang) headdress with diadem and long sumping in black, gold, green, and red. Gold neck and torso; arms have gold and red ornaments at wrist and bicep. Red chest covering and apron, with red trim and green and blue sequins. Apron with yellow frills at bottom, red waistband. Long batik skirt (blue and red on beige). Two pieces of lined paper with handwritten (in pen) inscription 'Abimanyu' glued to headdress and skirt.

History Of Use

Javanese puppetry as an art form probably developed by the 11th century. Wayang golek puppets of western Java 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. 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. Abimanyu is a prince (raden) from the Mahabharata cycle. He is the son of Arjuna, one of the principle Pandawa brothers. Puppet may not be correctly identified.

Cultural Context

Theatrical performance.

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. Colour and position of face suggest high virtue. Small facial features are very refined; position of hands, batik skirt, headdress, and skin colour indicate high rank. Inscription suggests Abimanyu, but puppet seems a great variation (much less hair, simpler headdress; moustache; larger eyes). Not otherwise identified.

Item History

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