Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Java, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. An interesting trio of articulating Wayang kulit puppets made from leather panels and attached to wooden rods. The puppets have articulated arms that the puppeteer controls with the sticks, and the male puppet has a jaw which is also articulated. The leather is cutout to create patterns across the body and skirts, as well as facial expressions. The leather is dyed red, yellow, green, and black. The first depicts a female deity or angel with 3 arms, the second is a man in a loin cloth, and the third is a brightly painted demon. The puppets are used as playful mediums to disseminate religious teachings and stories. Size of man: 4" W x 27" H (10.2 cm x 68.6 cm); 28" H (71.1 cm) on included custom stand.

These puppets are used in Wayang, a theatrical performance unique to Java that uses puppets and human dancers. This style of theatre has been designated by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage since 2003. This particular type of puppet - operated by rods connected to the hands - is known as a wayang kulit, which uses the play of light on a linen screen to project the puppets' shadows.

Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA, donated to Ashland University between July 1994 to December 1998

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#166224

Woman puppet: both arms reattached with modern pipe cleaner wires and cords. Second man puppet: missing one arm. Other arm is reattached at shoulder with a modern pipe cleaner wire. Tears and losses to upper part of right leg. Tears and losses to skirt. Third demon puppet: Fading and losses to pigments. Small loss to peripheries of skirt leather.