HANDMADE Indonesian / Javanese Wayang Kulit - Leather Shadow Puppet - Gareng
Item History & Price
Reference Number: Avaluer:24804342 | Material: Leather |
Culture: Indonesian | Handmade: Yes |
Provenance: Ownership History Not Available | Country/Region of Manufacture: Indonesia |
Main wooden stick appears to have painted signature by artist (but I'm not sure) - see the last photo.
He represents Gareng (or Nalagareng).
He is 21.5 inches tall (excluding hair). With... arms extended, the width is 21 inches.
I purchased him in San Francisco in a museum gift shop many years ago.
Buy with confidence! Check out my excellent feedback score on Ebay as a seller.
Here is additional information about Wayang Kulit puppet theater and its characters.
About Punakawan/Panakawan/PunokawanIn Javanese wayang, the panakawan or panakavan (phanakavhan) are the clown servants of the hero. There are four of them – Semar (also known as Ki Lurah Semar), Petruk, Gareng and Bagong. Semar is the personification of a deity, sometimes said to be the dhanyang or guardian spirit of the island of Java. In Javanese mythology, deities can only manifest themselves as ugly or otherwise unprepossessing humans, and so Semar is always portrayed as short and fat with a pug nose and a dangling hernia.
His three companions are his adopted sons, given to Semar as votaries by their parents. Petruk is portrayed as tall and gangling with a long nose, Gareng as short with a club foot and Bagong as obese.The panakawan always appear in the second act of a wayang performance – pathet sanga – as servants to the hero of the story regardless of who that hero is.
Similar characters appear in other Indonesian wayang and theatrical traditions, including those of Bali and Sunda, under different names.
The panakawan characters are generally much-loved by audiences who attend wayang plays in Indonesia and their appearance in the plays is usually greeted with laughter and anticipation.
1. Semar is the care-giver of Pandawa. His name is also Hyang Ismaya. Even though his appearance is so ugly, he has a supernatural ability that is greater than the gods'.
2. Gareng is one of Semar's sons which means he is revered. Nalagareng cannot speak well; furthermore, whatever he says can be totally wrong. However, he is a very funny and hilarious man. He has been a king of Paranggumiwang and has a name Pandubergola. He was elected to be a king in the name of Dewi Sumbadra. He is so powerful and can only be defeated by Petruk.
3. Petruk is Semar's son with the sweet face and smile. He is a smart speaker and a funny man. He likes to ridicule atrocity with his comedy. Petruk has been a king at the state of Ngrancang Kencana and is named Helgeduelbek. In one story, he took the Kalimasada amulet. Nobody can defeat him except Gareng.
4. Bagong means shadow of Semar. When Semar was sent to the earth, the gods stated that his shadow became his friend. Suddenly, his shadow was transformed to be Bagong. Bagong has unique personality: he is assertive and like to pretend to be stupid. He is also so funny.