Shadow Puppet Item Number: Ib441 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Semar, a male shadow puppet character. Most of body is in natural skin with a large protruding abdomen. Wearing gold and black checkered pants outlined with red. There are three horn handles with rivets at the joints.

History Of Use

Wayang kulit shadow play is over 1000 years old. It is thought to be derived from the leather shadow puppetry traditions of southern India, like tholu bommalata, which came to Java with the spread of Hinduism in the first millennium. In Java - part of the largely Islamic Republic of Indonesia - this highly distinctive form of shadow puppetry is valued as a pusaka, a sacred treasure of the royal court of Yogyakarta. They are inspired by the Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as stories of the history and folklore of Java, with a local spin. The plays are performed to mark special occasions such as birthdays, marriages, and religious events. Wayang shadow puppetry was inscribed on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. (from Shadow, Strings & Other Things, 2019)

Item History

What

Name
Shadow Puppet
Identification Number
Ib441
Type of Item
puppet
Material
water buffalo skin, horn, paint and fibre
Overall
height 57.0 cm, width 55.0 cm, depth 2.0 cm

Who

Culture
Javanese
Creator
Pak Sagio (Maker)
Field Collector
Dominique Major
Previous Owner
Dominique Major
Received from
Dominique Major (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

When

Creation Date
before September 1989
Collection Date
during 1989
Ownership Date
before October 17, 1989
Acquisition Date
on October 17, 1989

Other

Condition
good
Accession Number
1374/0017