Shadow Puppet
1850-1880 (made)
| Place of origin |
One of a collection of 32 figures, apparently of male and femal demons, cut out of buffalo skin, piereced, coloured and gilt. Each with a horn or wooden rib extending from the head to some distance below the feet, and a horn or wooden staff in each hand. All the figures are carefully perforated and painted in a similar way on both sides, and the greater number are also gilt.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Buffalo skin, pierced, painted and gilt |
| Brief description | Shadow puppet, buffalo skin, pierced, painted and gilt, Java, Indonesia, 1850-1880 |
| Physical description | One of a collection of 32 figures, apparently of male and femal demons, cut out of buffalo skin, piereced, coloured and gilt. Each with a horn or wooden rib extending from the head to some distance below the feet, and a horn or wooden staff in each hand. All the figures are carefully perforated and painted in a similar way on both sides, and the greater number are also gilt. |
| Object history | RF6492/1880. Purchased the collection (IS.36:1 to 32-1881) for £5 |
| Historical context | They are used in a Javanese shadow play known as "Wayang." In this play a white curtain is extended before the spectators on a frame 10 or 12 feet long by 5 feet high. The"dalang" or chief man in the piece, then recites the different speeches, and the shadows from the figures are thrown on the curtain. The subjects for the "Wayang" are taken from the early history of Java before the destruction of the Majapahit empire. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.36:2-1881 |
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| Record created | July 10, 2019 |
| Record URL |
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