Heavenly beauty, pillar decoration

anonymous, c. 1300 - c. 1500

In contrast to Javanese sacred figures made of stone, which tend to be rigid and formal, their terracotta counterparts are often naturalistic and three-dimensional. This heavenly beauty with large ear ornaments once adorned the base of a wooden pillar in a Javanese house or in a pendopo, an open pavilion supported by columns.

  • Artwork typesculpture, pilaarbekleding
  • Object numberAK-RAK-1966-2
  • Dimensionsheight 35 cm x width 20.5 cm x depth 14 cm
  • Physical characteristicsterracotta

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Heavenly beauty, pillar decoration

  • Object type

  • Object number

    AK-RAK-1966-2

  • Description

    Omhulsel voor bamboepilaar versierd met hemelnimf in de wolken, gehuld in een kleed dat los om het lichaam is geslagen en de borst gedeeltelijk vrij laat.

Creation

  • Creation

    anonymous, Oost-Java

  • Dating

    c. 1300 - c. 1500

  • Search further with

  • School / Style

Material and technique

  • Physical description

    terracotta

  • Dimensions

    height 35 cm x width 20.5 cm x depth 14 cm

Acquisition and rights

Documentation

    • Muller, H. R. A., 1978, 'Javanese terracottas: Terra incognita', p. 89 & frontispiece
    • H. Creese, Women of the Kakawin World : Marriage and Sexuality in the Indic Courts of Java and Bali, Armonk/London 2004.
    • S. Robson, Arjunawiwaha : The Marriage of Arjuna of Mpu Kanwa, Leiden 2008 (Bibliotheca Indonesica 34), p. 46-55.

Persistent URL

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  • Heavenly beauty, pillar decoration
  • Heavenly beauty, pillar decoration
  • Heavenly beauty, pillar decoration
  • Heavenly beauty, pillar decoration