Large Balinese King or Priest 23” (58 cm) Traditional Balinese Wood Carving

Description

Large Balinese King or Priest 23” (58 cm) Traditional Balinese Wood Carving
Early 20
th
century Indonesia
Item Description:
Balinese artifact
Measurement:
Height: 23” inches (58.4 cm)
Width:  11” inches (27.9 cm)
Depth:  6” inches (15.2 cm)
This is a rare early example of Balinese temple art; this is a large solid hardwood carving of perhaps a Balinese Priest or King. He must have special meaning to the Balinese because he has been depicted in carvings over time. We believe he has a bell in his left hand and perhaps a flower in his right. His necklaces are emphasized with gold leaf. He has very prominent eyebrows, mustache and beard. I thought he might be the sixth avatar of Vishnu Lord Parasurama but the item in his left hand seems more in tune with a bell rather than an axe. He could also be the Divine Sage Narada. This is hand carved and solid wood weighing 9 lbs. This was intended for a shrine, the back is flat and not intended to be viewed. This is an early carving intended for devotion. He has weathered and gathered up some incense over time but isn’t cracked and is intact no major damage to the figure other than the loss of some finish. His sarong has been carved in relief and painted. His royal adornments and throne are highlighted with gold leaf. This is a large carving standing 23” inches tall and is 11” wide and is 6” deep. Please see all the photos for the composition and condition of this Balinese artifact. This is from our Balinese collection of wood carvings that we have acquired over the years. We have culled through hundreds to find the best examples of Balinese art. Email with any questions.
I have been collecting artifacts for over 28 years and I have been a member of the EBay community since 1998 Please Buy with confidence.
Buyer info:
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Packaging and shipping is done with care and completed in an expedient manner, shipping days are Tuesday and Thursday for gas conservation. If you have a special request we will do our best to adjust the schedule to accommodate your schedule.
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Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Please read the item description and submit any questions you might have for clarification of the item for sale prior to bidding. I can provide additional photos at the buyers request to assist you in your purchase.
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Buyer should contact me within 3 days of auction ending, this assists in the expedient shipping.
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Payment must be received within 5 days of auction ending
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The coffee cup is used for scale only and not included in the auction listing.
Ref:  Bali Carving, Balinese, Hardwood, Shiva, Garuda, Ramayana, Barong, Hindu, Yama Raj, Siwa, Rsi Yadnya, base relief carving, Hand carved mahogany, Suar or Rain Tree,
Sono
Jati, Teak,
Kapur,
Nangka
Origin:
Balinese Hinduism is deeply interwoven with art and ritual and is concerned with a myriad of local and ancestral spirits. Balinese Hinduism is a heterogeneous amalgam in which gods and demigods are worshipped together with Buddhist heroes, the spirits of ancestors, indigenous agricultural deities and also with places considered sacred. Religion as it is practiced in
Bali
is a composite belief system that embraces not only theology, philosophy, and mythology, but ancestor worship, animism and magic. It pervades nearly every aspect of traditional life.