Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Unknown
"Indonesian Shadow Puppet, " Wood and Leather created in Indonesia c. 1800s

19th Century

$3,600
£2,697.54
€3,162.30
CA$5,041.77
A$5,650.97
CHF 2,958.36
MX$69,729.54
NOK 37,162.50
SEK 34,981.71
DKK 23,590.95
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist. This shadow puppet, 32" high and 9" wide with movable, was used in Indonesian Wayang puppet shows. Wayang (Krama Javanese: Ringgit ꦫꦶꦁꦒꦶꦠ꧀, "Shadow"), also known as Wajang, is a form of puppet theatre art found in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, wherein a dramatic story is told through shadows thrown by puppets and sometimes combined with human characters. The art form celebrates the Indonesian culture and artistic talent; its origins are traced to the spread of Hinduism in the medieval era and the arrival of leather-based puppet arts called Tholu bommalata from southern India. Wayang refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet itself is referred to as wayang. Performances of shadow puppet theatre are accompanied by a gamelan orchestra in Java, and by gender wayang in Bali. The dramatic stories depict mythologies, such as episodes from the Hindu epics the Ramayana, the Mahabharata as well as local adapations of cultural legends. Traditionally, a wayang is played out in a ritualized midnight-to-dawn show by a dalang, an artist and spiritual leader; people watch the show from both sides of the screen. UNESCO designated wayang kulit, a shadow puppet theatre and the best known of the Indonesian wayang, as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. In return for the acknowledgment, UNESCO required Indonesians to preserve their heritage. Wayang has also been a significant historical art form in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
  • Creation Year:
    19th Century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 1173d1stDibs: LU60532415503

More From This Seller

View All
"Shadow Puppet (flat) Wayang Klitik, " Leather & Wood created in Indonesia
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist. This shadow puppet, 26" high with movable arms, was used in Indonesian Wayang Klitik...
Category

19th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Leather, Wood

"Indonesian Shadow Puppet Wayang Purwa, " Leather created in Indonesian
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist using water buffalo hide. This shadow puppet, 18 1/2" high with movable arms, was use...
Category

19th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Animal Skin, Leather

"Indonesian Shadow Puppet Wayang Purwa, " Leather created in Indonesia
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist using water buffalo hide. This shadow puppet, 17 1/2" high with movable arms, was use...
Category

19th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Animal Skin, Leather

"Flat Wooden Shadow Puppet, " Wood & Leather created in Indonesia in the 19th C
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist. This shadow puppet, 20" high and 8" wide with movable, was used in Indonesian Wayang puppet shows. Wayang (Krama Javanese: Ringgit ꦫꦶꦁꦒꦶꦠ꧀, "Shadow"), also known as Wajang, is a form of puppet theatre art found in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, wherein a dramatic story is told through shadows thrown by puppets and sometimes combined with human characters. The art form celebrates the Indonesian culture and artistic talent; its origins are traced to the spread of Hinduism in the medieval era and the arrival of leather-based puppet arts called Tholu bommalata from southern India. Wayang refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet...
Category

19th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Leather, Wood

"Shadow Puppet Wayang Purwa, " Leather created in Indonesian in the 19th Century
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist using water buffalo hide. This shadow puppet, 14" high with movable arms, was used in Indonesian Wayang puppet shows. This puppet is an archer. Wayang (Krama Javanese: Ringgit ꦫꦶꦁꦒꦶꦠ꧀, "Shadow"), also known as Wajang, is a form of puppet theatre art...
Category

19th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Animal Skin, Leather

"Shadow Puppet Wayang Purwa, " Leather created in Indonesia in the 19th century
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist using water buffalo hide. This shadow puppet, 18" high with movable arms, was used in Indonesian Wayang puppet shows. Wayang (Krama Javanese: Ringgit ꦫꦶꦁꦒꦶꦠ꧀, "Shadow"), also known as Wajang, is a form of puppet theatre art...
Category

19th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Animal Skin, Leather

You May Also Like

Indonesian 'Wayang Kulit" Shadow Puppet, Java, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It features movable arms, controlled by outer bamboo rod...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Leather, Wood

Indonesian 'Wayang Kulit" Shadow Puppet, Java, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It features movable arms, controlled by outer bamboo rods. It was used in Wayang...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Leather, Wood

Indonesian 'Wayang Kulit" Shadow Puppet, Java, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It features movable arms, controlled by outer bamboo rods (however this puppet lost one of its bamboo rods over the years due to age) It was used in Wayang puppet...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Leather, Wood

Indonesian 'Wayang Golek" Shadow Puppet, Java, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This “Wayang Golek” is a visibly old shadow puppet carved using soft wood and cloth. It features an articulated head and arms connected to rods, the dress...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood, Fabric

Indonesian 'Wayang Golek" Shadow Puppet, Java, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This “Wayang Golek” is a visibly old shadow puppet carved using soft wood and cloth. It features an articulated head and arms connected to rods, the dress...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Indonesian 'Wayang Kulit" Shadow Puppet, Java, Indonesia, Early 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It features movable arms, controlled by outer bamboo rods (however this puppet lost one of its bamboo rods over the years due to age) It was used in Wayang puppet...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Leather, Wood