Unknown, Traditional Indonesian Mermaid Sculpture in Volcanic Limestone, 1980s, Stone

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Traditional Indonesian mermaid sculpture in volcanic limestone. Total height: 82 cm; Base dimensions: 24 x 25 cm; Maximum width: 27 … Read more Traditional Indonesian mermaid sculpture in volcanic limestone. Total height: 82 cm; Base dimensions: 24 x 25 cm; Maximum width: 27 cm; Weight: approximately 80 kg. Balinese sculpture in volcanic stone or limestone, representing a hybrid female figure with aquatic characteristics. The figure is sculpted in a seated or semi-kneeling position, with an upright torso and arms extended forward to support a spherical vessel. The lower body is styled as a fishtail, with detailed scale work and an extended dorsal fin forming a structural vertical element at the rear of the composition. The face has soft, regular features, with a smooth hairstyle pulled back. The forms are full and compact, and the decorative details are more restrained than on some ceremonial pieces. The surface is heavily patinated, with deposits, micro-erosion, and variations in shade from gray-green to beige, characteristic of prolonged outdoor exposure. This type of sculpture is commonly associated with water features in Balinese architecture. An authentic local sculpture, found in Bali in a large outdoor garden. The surface is weathered by the elements, with a natural patina, and contains traces of soil, lichen, and other natural elements. Stone sculptures play a significant role in Balinese daily life and spirituality. They are often found in domestic gardens, courtyards, or water temples. They are generally carved from volcanic limestone, which quickly becomes covered in moss and lichen in the tropical climate—an aesthetically desirable evolution that situates the sculpture within a living, organic cycle. The presence of the vessel held by the figure suggests a potential function as a fountain or overflow, where water flows from the jar or around the sculpture. In Balinese culture, water is a central element, linked to purification, fertility, and the circulation of vital forces (tirta). The aquatic female figures, similar to apsaras or local mythological creatures, embody this relationship with water and its regenerative virtues. Installed in gardens, pools or water temples, these sculptures participate in the symbolic organization of space, serving both as a functional support and as a mediator between the material and spiritual worlds. See less