Featured Damaged carving, what would you do?

i try not to buy damaged but thought she was lovely, plus she was very inexpensive. Would you balance her up and cut off part of the headdress or leave her alone? I also have no idea which country she is from, she looks more African than Asian. 9 half inches high and 5 inches wide. Not very heavy, no idea about the wood type or possible age either. Someone has tried glueing her at one time, hence lighter areas. Thanks for looking.

 

She is from Bali, Indonesia. A representation of a djanger dancer.
The djanger dance was very popular in Balinese villages, mainly in the 1930s, but djanger dancers were carved longer than that. The dance was inspired by the dances of a visiting dance group from Malaysia and consisted mainly of hand and arm movements and facial expressions. It was performed by boys and girls, sitting in rows across from each other. Here is a row of djanger girls.


Here face is lovely, nicely carved. The rest doesn't have much detail. The wood is stained to make it look like dark hardwood.
Taking away more of the crown would take away the djanger aspect, which would be a pity, imo.

 

Thank you AJ. I hoped you would reply and thought you would know the answer.
I’ll just clean off the old glue and give her a beeswax.

 

Pleasure, of course. A bit of tlc will do wonders, I think. Just enjoy her, and that pretty face of hers.
The dance was a bit playful, harmless fun for 1930s village teens. That is something associated with her, whatever her condition.

 

Just remembered, I have an old hand coloured photo in an old book on Bali. Here you can see the fun they had:

 

Nice to see.

 

I try to buy with very little damage...if any....but sometimes ya can't help yerself..

Yours has more soul......leave it the way it is !!

 

Yours is also an older type, these are usually dated 1930s-50s. The one Komo showed is carved from beautiful coromandel, probably in the 1980s or 90s.
The older ones always have more soul, and the face on yours is very beautiful.

 

Yes, the face was the thing that made me buy. We chanced upon the car boot sale, late. Sellers were packing up and she had been left. I picked her up and the seller said £1!

 

Will do. I also bought a cracked mug just couldn’t help myself there either.

 

Wow!

 

I think I may have paid $20....
It was the wood that drew me to it....and the 3d carving is excellent ....
at 12 1/2 x 6 .....she calls your attention...

 

I love that coromandel wood, very pricey though .. I think it is protected now. And Houseful .. she is lovely just the way she is .. very beautiful , Joy.

 

Gives u just a clue here-these young ladies are about average looking for the area. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life was in line at our local post office here in Virginia, dark nut-brown complexion, dressed in traditional everyday clothing for Indonesia, and unfortunately I was too stunned to take a picture.

 

I once saw an Indonesian woman at my local post office (what is it with post offices?), dressed in full Indonesian Muslim dress in striking red and white, the colours of the Indonesian flag. It was stunning, especially with her big smile, very Indonesian.
Here in the Netherlands Indonesians and part Indonesians are generally considered beautiful. My Indonesian ancestors are from the island where reputedly the most beautiful women of Indonesia are from, Madura. The population is a mix of Indonesian, Indian, Chinese and Arabic.