Sculpture
Sculpture
15th century (made)
15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Monolithic figure of a guardian, standing frontally with his right arm held at his waist and his left hand resting on a club; sculpted in full relief from course stone.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sculpture (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Monolithic, course (volcanic) stone |
| Brief description | Monolithic guardian figure, Majapahit Style, East Java, Indonesia, ca. 15th century |
| Physical description | Monolithic figure of a guardian, standing frontally with his right arm held at his waist and his left hand resting on a club; sculpted in full relief from course stone. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | Guardian Figure from an Epic Drama
1400–1500
Majapahit period
This sculpture probably represents Kertolo, a close follower
of Panji, a princely hero from a cycle of romantic tales
popular in the Majapahit period. These tales were widely
illustrated in many art forms. The handlebar moustache
and elaborate hairstyle with curly hair tied in a ribbon are
echoed in later shadow puppets (wayang purwa).
Volcanic stone
Indonesia (East Java)
Museum no. IS.11-1989(14/06/2011) |
| Object history | Previously idenified as Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers of the Indian Epic Mahabharata, whose cult enjoyed great popularity during the closing years of the Majapahit reign. Bhima is conventionally represented as having coarse features, an erect penis and his hair swept up into an elaborate coiffure with his curly hair tied in a ribbon and sports a large handlebar moustache, which echoes the stylization seen on later shadow puppets (wayang purwa). It may alternatively be Kertolo, one of the acolytes of Panji, the princely hero of a cycle of romantic tales which originated in the Majapahit Period. |
| Historical context | Purchased from Spink & Son. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Asia House Gallery Catalogue, Ancient Indonesian Art, New York 1971 by Jan Fontein a.o. p.63. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.11-1989 |
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| Record created | February 13, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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