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Gamelan Figurines

07/18/2012 //
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W350xD150xH700mm, Indonesia

This wooden figurine depicted the some of the instrument used in a Balinese gamelan.  Gamelan is the traditional Indonesian musical ensemble which is accompanied by dances, puppet performances or rituals, a dancer is also represented on this carving.

The player on the right is playing a castanet.  The drum played by the figurine on the left is known as a kendang, a two sided drum, which is made from hollowing out from the trunk of a tree.  The kendang player is the leader of the gamelan, giving clues to the other players.  Here is how it sound like solo;

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Categories figurine, wood

Monkey Mask

05/16/2012 //
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W140xH170mm, Indonesia

This is a mask used for the Kecak trance dance in Bali, it is also know as the monkey chant.  The chant is performed by 150 men during which the Ramayana epic will be performed by masked dances.  In the Ramayana legend, the monkey king Vanara helped Rama to save his wife Sita from the demon Ravana.

For our other monkey mask, check out previous entry:
Monkey Topeng, Korean Monkey Mask, Monkey Mask.

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Categories mask, wood

Guri Guri Potion Stopper

04/26/2012 //
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W80xH180mm, Sumatra, Indonesia

Apology for yesterday’s misinformation, this is actually the stopper of the guri guri potion container, a container of magic for the Batak tribe.

The magical potion is known as guri guri, used by the datu to perform good as well as magic with evil intention.  The guri guri is one of the most sacred object of the datu.  The figurine is a human riding on singa.   Singa is a mythological creature that is benevolent and powerful, it is described to be part human, part buffalo, part crocodile.

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Categories container, figurine, JT pottery, tribal, wood

Penthul Topeng

04/19/2012 //
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W150xH170mm, Indonesia

This is Penthul, friend of  Tembem.  They are masks for the Jathilan folk dance, a Javanese hobby horse trance dance for exorcising evil spirits showing a battle between good and evil.   Jathilan dance is performed to celebrate harvest, weddings; originally it was a rite of passage to adulthood, the child whole mimic riding a horse and crossing over to become an adult.

Penthul and Tembem appears in the first act of the dance, they are the princes from the Kediri Kingdom who were faced by the forest spirits who attacked theirs soldier sending them into a trance.

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Categories mask, wood

Goat Letter Opener

03/23/2012 //
1

L150mm, Indonesia

This is a wooden letter opener with a goat figurine as a handle.

I would like to share with you a lamb satay recipe.

SATE KAMBING (make 15 skewer)

INGREDIENTS

  • 500g spring lamb (cut into W25xT20mm slices)
  • satay sticks
  • diced cucumber
  • peanut sauce
MARINADE
  • 6 shallots (chopped)
  • 3 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 2 lime leaves (chopped)
  • 100ml soya sauce
  • 1tsp chili powder
  • 1.5tsp ground coriander
  • 1.5tsp ground cumin
  • 1.5tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1tbs brown sugar
  • 2tbs peanut oil
  • salt
METHOD
  1. marinate the lamb slices in the fridge for 10-12 hours
  2. grill the shewered meat, ideally over charcoal, until cooked
  3. dipped in peanut sauce and enjoy with the cumcumber

 

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Categories figurine, stationary, tools, wood

Bondres Bues Topeng

02/05/2012 //
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W140xH180mm, Indonesia

This is a Balinese topeng for the masked dance.  Bondre Bues is a comical character who loved drinking, with a blurry speech and a drinken mind, he loved to pick on fights.  This when not drinking, this rowdy bully practices martial art and looking for the next drink. Sounds familiar?

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Categories mask, wood

Spoon

01/06/2012 //
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W90xL260xH120mm, Borneo, Indonesia

This is a buffalo horn rice spoon decorated with a bird as a handle.  This combination reminded me of legend.  A long long time ago like all animals the water buffalo has both the upper and lower teeth in his jaw.  One day, minding his own business munching the grass as he does all day long, hidden in the grass there is a tiny bird with a beautiful tail.  Not seeing the bird, the buffalo accidentally stepped on the tail of the bird, the bird squeaked and while the buffalo bend down to ask what has happened, the bird’s wing knocked out all the teeth out of his upper jaw.  Both upset with each other, they cast evil spell on each other, the bird for all the buffalo never to have upper teeth and the buffalo for the bird to have the tail fell off.  The bird is the pimpikau of Borneo which has no tail and a lack of feathers at the butt and of course now the water buffalo no longer has any upper teeth.
Is this true that water buffalo really have no upper teeth?  Someone please confirm this?

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Categories Uncategorized

Joker’s Mask

10/26/2011 //
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L150xW130mm, Indonesia

This is a Topeng use for masked dances in Indonesia.  This mask would have been worn by the Bondres character , a joker to bring in the humorous elements in the performance.  Despite the ugly facial expression, the Bondres are popular character because of the bawdy jokes and satires that poke fun at the current events.  The jawless mask was made so for the actor to be able to speak clearly.  Each dancer would have his own collection and there are many different of these clown character.  The eye brow and moustache are made with goat hair.

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Categories mask, wood

Monkey Mask

09/25/2011 //
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W200xH250mm, Indonesia

This is Java Topeng in the form of a monkey.  Actors would wear these masks to perform a traditional dance.  These performance usually take place at night and will last for several hours.

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Categories mask, tribal, wood

Cow Bell

09/21/2011 //
0

W250xH150xD150mm, Indonesia

This is a musical instrument known as the Okokan which is in fact a cow bell.  Originally the Balinese use the cow bell to keep track of their cows and buffalos in the field.  When the herd of cows move, the bell would sound like music playing.  This inspire the farmers to use it was an entertainment during harvest, it is also believe that the evil can be steered away as it does to the flies for the cows.  This Okokan is in the shape of a head with the tongue being the clapper.

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Categories tribal, wood
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