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<p>[QUOTE="Any Jewelry, post: 318167, member: 2844"]These are wayang golek, Sundanese from West Java. None were ever used by a puppeteer.</p><p><br /></p><p>A bit of an explanation, wayang is the general term for carved puppets, whether made from:</p><p>hide - wayang purwa (Central & East Java, Madura, Bali)</p><p>flat wood - wayang klitik (East Java)</p><p>round wood - wayang golek.(West Java)</p><p>It also refers to the enactment of spiritual or educational plays, whether with puppets or people - wayang orang, wayang wong, wayang topeng and wayang gedog. Wayang topeng and gedog are performed by people with masks, most of the Javanese masks you see for sale or in museums are for wayang topeng.</p><p>There were also stories painted on a large scroll - wayang beber, but that is no longer performed.</p><p><br /></p><p>The different types of wayang have to do with regional and religious differences.</p><p>Most wayang is not performed with an oil lamp and a screen, it does not mean shadow play. Even wayang purwa, which has a shadow component, can be viewed from both sides of the screen and is far more complicated than mere shadow play.</p><p>The enacted stories vary from Hindu epics and stories of local heroes to Muslim stories.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back to this trio.</p><p>The unpainted one is simply unfinished, a recent fashion to accommodate the taste of Westerners who don’t like ‘gaudy’ painting. The painting is needed for the audience of course, just like stage make up.</p><p>The one on the right, which I really like btw, goes against the rules of wayang. He is wearing the diadem and crown combination of a high king or God, and should be represented with a bowed head. A humble posture signifies a calm, controlled nature and spiritual purity, which are required of high nobility as well as divinity.</p><p>There is a recent fashion for these more life-like faces, which is very charming, I think. They are made as decorator’s pieces or even works of art, and can fetch higher prices than contemporary true wayang golek. But what happened to his right arm?</p><p>The one on the left has a similar diadem and crown combination, so similar status. The posture is right. He was probably made in the 90s, which makes him the oldest one.</p><p><br /></p><p>A simple way to see if a wayang golek has a bit of age, is to check the textile in the folds. If it is brighter than the textile on the outside, there is some age. All textiles used for the costumes fade over time, including velvet.</p><p><br /></p><p>Chris, I don’t know what prices for wayang golek are like in Oz, so I can’t advise you. I hope the explanation helps. I would certainly leave the unpainted one where it is.</p><p><br /></p><p>Wayang orang/wong:</p><p><img src="https://s14-eu5.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclashofdesire.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwob-1.jpg&sp=f753f17e8901585af72db6701c9e015b" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Wayang topeng, performed in East Java and Madura:</p><p><img src="https://s14-eu5.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http%3A%2F%2Ft0.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcQwEG-7aMODQt5ua8Xnefu1kRY_OeVdQ2wwTPwAOQHziI0iJxqi&sp=d252e0e25cd7d5adf8dfdd8614d02018&anticache=400067" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Any Jewelry, post: 318167, member: 2844"]These are wayang golek, Sundanese from West Java. None were ever used by a puppeteer. A bit of an explanation, wayang is the general term for carved puppets, whether made from: hide - wayang purwa (Central & East Java, Madura, Bali) flat wood - wayang klitik (East Java) round wood - wayang golek.(West Java) It also refers to the enactment of spiritual or educational plays, whether with puppets or people - wayang orang, wayang wong, wayang topeng and wayang gedog. Wayang topeng and gedog are performed by people with masks, most of the Javanese masks you see for sale or in museums are for wayang topeng. There were also stories painted on a large scroll - wayang beber, but that is no longer performed. The different types of wayang have to do with regional and religious differences. Most wayang is not performed with an oil lamp and a screen, it does not mean shadow play. Even wayang purwa, which has a shadow component, can be viewed from both sides of the screen and is far more complicated than mere shadow play. The enacted stories vary from Hindu epics and stories of local heroes to Muslim stories. Back to this trio. The unpainted one is simply unfinished, a recent fashion to accommodate the taste of Westerners who don’t like ‘gaudy’ painting. The painting is needed for the audience of course, just like stage make up. The one on the right, which I really like btw, goes against the rules of wayang. He is wearing the diadem and crown combination of a high king or God, and should be represented with a bowed head. A humble posture signifies a calm, controlled nature and spiritual purity, which are required of high nobility as well as divinity. There is a recent fashion for these more life-like faces, which is very charming, I think. They are made as decorator’s pieces or even works of art, and can fetch higher prices than contemporary true wayang golek. But what happened to his right arm? The one on the left has a similar diadem and crown combination, so similar status. The posture is right. He was probably made in the 90s, which makes him the oldest one. A simple way to see if a wayang golek has a bit of age, is to check the textile in the folds. If it is brighter than the textile on the outside, there is some age. All textiles used for the costumes fade over time, including velvet. Chris, I don’t know what prices for wayang golek are like in Oz, so I can’t advise you. I hope the explanation helps. I would certainly leave the unpainted one where it is. Wayang orang/wong: [IMG]https://s14-eu5.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclashofdesire.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwob-1.jpg&sp=f753f17e8901585af72db6701c9e015b[/IMG] Wayang topeng, performed in East Java and Madura: [IMG]https://s14-eu5.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http%3A%2F%2Ft0.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcQwEG-7aMODQt5ua8Xnefu1kRY_OeVdQ2wwTPwAOQHziI0iJxqi&sp=d252e0e25cd7d5adf8dfdd8614d02018&anticache=400067[/IMG][/QUOTE]
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