Shadow Puppet Item Number: 1374/26 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Two-dimensional painted puppet of a Dutch military or colonial official. The man is shown wearing a neck ruffle and carrying a sabre with an ornate wire hilt and scabbard. Long, translucent yellow-brown carved sticks are attached to both hands with a third, tapering stick running up the figure's left leg and chest, ending in a looping reverse curve over the figure's ear. Both arms have movable joints at the elbows and shoulders.

History Of Use

This character--a Dutch Colonial Official--is from a Javanese shadow puppet tradition called Wayang Suluh, which was introduced in 1947 by the Ministry of Information. These are identical to Wayang Kulit, except the characters are all contemporary people, such as farmers, teachers, sultans and officers. Wayang suluh plays were used to convey nationalistic and moral messages during the Indonesian revolution against Dutch colonial rule. The visual dialogue between these figures captures an act of confrontation: Sultan, Hamengkubuwono IX (b. 1912; in office 1940-1988), in his peci (cap) and regalia (See 1568/5), confronts the colonial past: a Dutch military official, with antiquated neck ruffle, who carries a sabre. Indonesia achieved independence in 1949.

Item History

What

Name
Shadow Puppet
Identification Number
1374/26
Type of Item
puppet
Material
water buffalo skin, horn, pigment and fibre
Overall
height 90.8 cm, width 43.6 cm, diameter 2.0 cm

Who

Culture
Javanese
Creator
Pak Ledjar (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
during 1989
Ownership Date
before October 17, 1989
Acquisition Date
on October 17, 1989

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
1374/0026