Wayang Golek puppet heads?

Someone suggested that these could be Wayang Golek puppets, but we’re not so sure... Any ideas on what these could be, origin, age, etc. would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Smallest measures approx 11 1/2” tall
Largest is approx 15 1/2” tall

 

@Any Jewelry

 

Do look like wayang golek, from Java.

https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/237003

http://bstribalart.com/Asian-Ethnographic-Art/items_detail.php?ID=850128

The head fits into a socket in the shoulders. A stick fits into the neck, which the puppeteer can use to turn the head.

 

Yes they are heads from decapitated Wayang Golek puppets from West Java. Indonesia.
They all represent similar minor characters in the stories, female servants or dancers. No specific names, they would be used in any story where a servant or dancer was required.
They all look original, not made as souvenirs but once part of complete theatre sets. Probably used by travelling dalangs or puppeteers in the early-mid 20th century.

They would look better if they were put on low wooden stands, cheap lathe-turned is fine. This is a bit of a 'head on a stake' display.

 

More of the Jason Wu ilk??

 

Eegad! Big Brother is Really everywhere! Just left here to go check my eMail. There's a missive which says, "Shop Macy's for Jason Wu,"

 

i don't understand there're people who collected the decapited head than a full body

from the style,yes i think it's from java,specially surakarta-yogyakarta region(south part of central java province) if i'm not mistake

 

i'm not sure about the value here of decapited head,beacuse here in indonesia usually some people collects wayang golek in full body,and i think the price for old or antique wayang golek is about 30-50$,and for special item maybe can a bit higher,and for the newer wayang golek it cost less than 20$ with some are less than 10$ each!

 

Neither do I. It looks scary.

Wayang Golek is from West Java.
Souvenir shops everywhere sell them now, but the W Golek is traditional Sundanese, although it extends east to about Cirebon.

Same here in the Netherlands.

 

hmm from what i knew it was from central java then spread into the west to sunda/west java,the information is same from wiki AJ!
at the first the wayang golek is used as a media to spread islam in java in 1583 by Sunan Kudus from Kudus,central java

https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayang_golek but it's in bahasa

 

Those critters would look scary if they looked like mother Teresa!

And, while I certainly do not know if this is true, could they be someone's way to provide garments that might indicate the nature of the character? (Or whatever?) One could clutch the thing by the stick and put clothes over the hand and arm holding it.

It's a thought...

 

Wayang Kulit is Central Javanese (and Madurese), they perform the original Wayang Purwa.

Yes, Wayang Golek is West Java, Banten-Cirebon. Sunan Kudus is credited with inventing Wayang Golek, but there is no actual proof he did. It is quite in keeping with traditions on Java that he used it to popularise Islam. Wasn't he also the one who introduced the Javanese building style for mosques (masjid)?

 

The puppet needs a body to put clothes on. They have a body and arms, just no legs.

 

I do read a bit of Bahasa, but v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.

 

This is a bit of a 'head on a stake' display.
looks like Vlad the Impaler got hold of these....

 

That was my first association.
There is no proof he ever visited Java though, so I didn't want to say it.

 

Remind me and I'll ask him the net time we meet for, um, tea.....yeah, that's it - tea

 

Is that what you call it?

 

yes he is,but i think,this kind of wayang golek was originally from china in ancient time and then it spread into south east asia with some new local improvement.ever heard about potehi puppet?i do believe they (china) have more old traditional form of this kind of puppet show (i think)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glove_puppetry

then you need to learn more

 

then you need to learn more

No, I don't believe she does....