Wayang kulit (shadow puppet) of gunungan (mountain) or kayon (tree of life). One side of the object shows a set of white stairs leading up to the closed double doors of a small temple. Guarding the doors at either side are two golden skinned, blue faced creatures (raksasa) holding maces. Their faces are fierce, with red eyes and sharp teeth in grinning mouths. To either side of the temple’s roof are the faces of dragons, with red eyes and mouths, sharp golden teeth, and feathered brows. At top is the head of a purple demon that wards off evil spirits. Above it is a golden Tree of Life full of monkeys, birds, flowers, and a serpent wrapped around the trunk. A tiger and water buffalo face each other at the tree’s bottom. On the other side of the object is a large blue demon’s head with open red mouth and white teeth. It is surrounded on all sides by yellow and red flames. The leather of the object is pierced through with patterns that create delicate lacy designs intended to allow light to shine through. The puppet is held firm by a long smooth handle made of polished horn.

Two-dimensional shadow puppet. The human-like figure is identical on both sides. It has white skin painted with sparse black hairs, round red eyes, an open, bearded red and gold mouth, and bared gold teeth. The hair is black and curled, and contains a gold headdress. The figure wears a checked and decorated garment that sits at the hips and falls to the floor. His legs are bare, with small colourful serpents wound around the ankles. The arms are encircled by elaborate bracelets at wrists and above elbows, and each hand has fingers as well as a large red and pink claw. A long white tail, decorated with several bracelets begins at the puppet’s hip and winds up to the top of its head. The leather of the puppet is pierced decoratively, especially throughout the hair, to allow light to shine through. Horn handles hold the puppet at the middle and move its fully extendable arms.

Mask of man’s face with black curly hair, moustache, and beard, curvilinear horns, elongated pointed ears, bulbous eyes and a fierce expression. Face has a dark complexion and is decorated across nose and cheeks with horizontal stripes of yellow, red, and white.

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Brooklyn Museum Collection

By exchange

Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

Mask with fangs and inlaid eyes. Mask has a humanoid face, raised vertical ridge in centre of forehead, eyes of white and black inlay, white fangs and two ear-like protrusions on top of head. Ears are elongated with holes for ear plugs. Mask carved from wood with incised line detailing and inlays.