Javanese shadow puppet of carved, painted and gilded leather, depicting Rahwana Pokong wearing a diadem and a praba backwing with a garuda mungkur motif. He wears a dodot decorated with the kawung motif. The central support rod, made of horn, is bound to a wooden upper support on either side of the body of the puppet. There is one articulated arm with a horn support rod. Unusually, the puppet has additional sequin decoration. It shows signs of wear, and has been repaired locally in Java. Mbah Ledjar of Yogyakarta has identified this puppet as representing Rahwana, otherwise known as Dasamuka, the king of Alengka in the Ramayana story.
shadow puppet
Collection Information
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