Antique Balinese Figures in Polychrome Wood, 1890s, Set of 2

Details

Description

A pair of hand-carved and polychrome wooden figures from Bali, Indonesia.

An exceptionally decorative example of traditional Balinese art. Both … Read more A pair of hand-carved and polychrome wooden figures from Bali, Indonesia.

An exceptionally decorative example of traditional Balinese art. Both figures are depicted in characteristic, richly decorated costumes and tall, elaborate headdresses. The figures feature an intricate, openwork structure and decorative finials at the bottom.

The entire piece was handcrafted from wood and covered with multicolored polychrome paint. The preserved surface bears clear signs of the passage of time: natural cracks, scuffs, areas where the paint has worn away, and a refined, subdued patina. These marks are characteristic of old objects of this kind and emphasize their authentic character.

Origin and Dating

Bali, Indonesia
circa 1890–1920
most likely the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries


The original function of such objects cannot always be unequivocally determined. Balinese wooden sculptures may have served a religious or decorative purpose, or been part of the furnishings of important buildings and ceremonial spaces.

Material: wood, hand-carved, polychrome

Origin: Bali, Indonesia

Date: ca. 1890–1920

Condition: preserved in a condition consistent with its age; visible natural cracks in the wood, scuffs, losses, and signs of wear on the polychrome. The pieces bear authentic signs of age and have not been excessively restored by me. See less