Large 22" Mid-Century Balinese Art Deco Elongated Maiden With Water Vessel Masterwork Sculpture

Details

Description

An extraordinary, gallery-grade mid-century Balinese modernist sculpture depicting an elegant elongated maiden. Standing an impressive 22 inches tall, this unsigned … Read more An extraordinary, gallery-grade mid-century Balinese modernist sculpture depicting an elegant elongated maiden. Standing an impressive 22 inches tall, this unsigned masterpiece is a definitive example of the Balinese Art Deco movement, capturing a perfect harmony between traditional Indonesian mysticism and Western mid-century avant-garde design.
The sculpture is hand-carved from a single, substantial block of premium, warm honey-toned hardwood with an exceptionally fine grain and smooth, satin-like luster. The figure stands poised upon a beautifully detailed, multi-layered lotus blossom throne resting on a tiered architectural pedestal base. Her silhouette is drastically elongated, featuring sharp geometric angles along her slender arms and shoulders that contrast beautifully against her soft, serene facial features. She wears large traditional ear plugs (Subeng) and holds a sacred ceremonial water vessel (Kendi) to her chest, symbolizing purity and life-giving blessings.
Her hair is swept up into a magnificent, impossibly tall, tapering headdress adorned with delicate geometric incisions. The incredible vertical extension of the headdress requires immense skill to carve without compromising the balance of the timber, making it a clear signature of an absolute master craftsman from the Mas region. The piece remains in flawless gallery condition, displaying a rich natural patina with no chips, breaks, or cracks.
Art Movement: Advanced Balinese Modernist Art Deco / Pita Maha Lineage Style
Region of Origin: Mas, Ubud District, Bali, Indonesia
Artist: Unsigned Master Carver
Material: Selected Honey Hardwood (Satinwood / Light Suar)
Condition: Pristine vintage condition; excellent structural balance; all sharp profiles, delicate toes, and the towering headdress are completely intact; no defects or repairs.
Dimensions
Height: 22 inches
Width: 4 1/2 inches
Depth: 4 1/2 inches
Estimated Era
Circa 1940s–1950s (Early Post-War Renaissance)The extreme geometric elongation, heavy focus on sharp architectural lines rather than soft curves, and the inclusion of the integrated lotus pedestal heavily point to the golden era of the 1940s to 1950s. This was a period when master carvers poured an incredible amount of time into single, monumental figures for elite international collections. See less