Rod Puppet Item Number: 2872/19 a-f from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Rod puppet of Garuda. The puppet's head (part a) has the face of a bird, with a long sharp beak containing rounded gold teeth, and large red eyes rimmed in shades of blue. Above a scalloped brow and ears with dangling tassels is a large elaborate headdress decorated with stripes and swirls of paint and carved patterns. It covers a fringe of curled black hair at the back of the head. On the body (part b) theback of the puppet’s shoulders have 2 vertical grooves for the wings (parts d and e) to be inserted into. The wings are partially splayed and have long feathers of blue, pink and white. On the puppet’s rounded chest is a pattern of carved and painted feathers in light brown, green and red. A patterned sarong drapes down from his waist, covering a wooden stick (part c) that extends through the torso into the head to control its movement. Bracelets adorn each arm and wrist and each hand has curved talons rather than fingers. The arms are moveable at shoulder and elbow by wooden sticks attached to each hand. Part f is the wooden base.
History Of Use
Wayang golek, rod puppet, of Garuda, a huge predatory bird in Indonesian mythology.
Iconographic Meaning
Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature from both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. In this case it represents a character from the Ramayana. Garuda is usually shown in either zoomorphic form (a giant bird with partially open wings), or anthropomorphic form (a man with wings and some bird features).
Item History
- Made in West Java, Indonesia
- Collected between 1990 and 1999
- Owned by Betty Cairney
- Owned by Jack Cairney before March 15, 2011
- Received from Jack Cairney (Donor) on March 15, 2011
What
- Name
- Rod Puppet
- Identification Number
- 2872/19 a-f
- Type of Item
- puppet
- Material
- wood, cotton fibre, plastic and paint
- Overall
- height 92.0 cm, width 41.0 cm, depth 20.0 cm
- Part A
- height 24.5 cm, width 10.0 cm, depth 27.0 cm
- Part B
- height 58.5 cm, width 23.0 cm, depth 13.0 cm
- Part C
- height 57.6 cm, width 3.5 cm, depth 1.7 cm
- Part D
- height 49.0 cm, width 20.0 cm, depth 2.5 cm
- Part E
- height 47.0 cm, width 19.0 cm, depth 2.8 cm
- Part F
- height 10.0 cm, width 17.2 cm, depth 16.1 cm
Who
- Culture
- Sundanese
- Previous Owner
- Betty Cairney and Jack Cairney
- Received from
- Jack Cairney (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- West Java, Indonesia
When
- Collection Date
- between 1990 and 1999
- Ownership Date
- before March 15, 2011
- Acquisition Date
- on March 15, 2011
Other
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2872/0019 a-f