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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.

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).

History Of Use

Wayang golek, rod puppet, of Garuda, a huge predatory bird in Indonesian mythology.