INDONESIAN JAVANESE SUNDANESE WAYANG GOLEK ARTICULATED PUPPETS. Two patinated meticulously hand crafted and decorated stick puppets used in Wayang Golek, a traditional Indonesian puppet theatre, specifically from the Sundanese culture of West Java (Indonesia), using three-dimensional wooden puppets controlled by rods. These puppets, often depicting characters from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, are manipulated by a puppeteer (dalang) who also provides the voices and narrates the story, often accompanied by a gamelan orchestra. Each puppet is a work of art; its head is a separate piece from the body, connected by a rod. The arms are articulated, allowing the puppeteer to create expressive gestures. The hands are also often jointed, adding to the realism and movement. Lastly, the puppet is dressed in elaborate, traditional clothes, often made from batik fabric. - height: 30 inches. Estimate $180-270
This is not a tourist item. We do not know the exact age but it is approx. 10th-15th century.
