1930s Pre-War Balinese Modernist Macassar Ebony Vishnu Riding Garuda – Masterwork Exhibition Sculpture

Details

Description

An absolute museum-grade masterpiece of pre-war Balinese artistry, this breathtaking 14-inch sculpture depicts Lord Vishnu riding astride the mythical avian … Read more An absolute museum-grade masterpiece of pre-war Balinese artistry, this breathtaking 14-inch sculpture depicts Lord Vishnu riding astride the mythical avian deity Garuda as they engage in a high-tension cosmic battle to vanquish the sacred Naga serpent atop the World Turtle (Bedawang Nala). Carved from a single, exceptionally dense, heavy block of premium black Macassar ebony heartwood, this sculpture exhibits a masterful level of deep, three-dimensional undercutting that stands entirely unrivaled in complexity and artistic execution.
The visual storytelling chiseled into this dense timber is extraordinary, capturing highly specific mythological defense structures with flawless precision. The foundational World Turtle is detailed with unique buck teeth and a sacred protective horn rising from its head, while the writhing Naga serpent features painstakingly carved backward-facing scales designed to emphasize its crushing constrictive grip. Garuda is captured mid-roar with an open mouth containing individual chiseled fangs, surrounded by an incredible, radiating canopy of meticulously layered wings and tail feathers that span the entire reverse profile of the artwork. Masterfully incorporated into the deep crevices are rare, preserved accents of traditional red ceremonial pigment tracing Garuda's beak and the lower limbs. Unsigned as is traditional for exhibition-class sacred pieces of this era, the sculpture has been hand-burnished to a magnificent, glass-smooth satin sheen that perfectly highlights the subtle, dark chocolate mineral lines looping across the wood cells. A true investment-grade crown jewel for the most serious global collectors of ethnographic art.

Physical Dimensions

• Height: 14 Inches
• Width: 4 ¼ Inches
• Depth: 7 Inches

Condition Report

Pristine Museum Condition. This magnificent, heavy ebony sculpture stands in completely flawless structural condition, having been immaculately preserved as a protected family heirloom. The high-density Macassar ebony cells are entirely stable, exhibiting a deep, glowing hand-burnished satin luster. Every single intricate detail, sharp wing tip, crown spire, and tooth is fully intact, with absolutely zero structural hairline cracks, chips, surface splits, or repairs. See less