Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

Unknown
"Golek Puppet (Male), " Wood & Cloth created by Indonesia circa 1900

circa 1900

About the Item

This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 26" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be compared to European and North America: most performances revolve around Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses who fight against evil, mystical, beings to (usually) end happily. Three-dimensional Indonesian puppets are carved out of light, soft wood. The head of the puppet is the most important part, and that is the most intricately carved section of each puppet. The puppeteer will often carve the face of a bird into the back of the puppet's headdress.Once the head is carved, the waist and torso are then carved.After the head and torso have been created, a hole is drilled from the neck to the bottom of the trunk where a large wooden rod is placedThe head is then mounted on the top of the wooden rodThe arms are then carved into two sections: shoulder to elbow, and hand to elbow Wayang Golek performances take place on special events: weddings, religious ceremonies or cultural days. Performances usually begin at 9:30pm and last until 4:30am in the morning. A puppet troupe may be hired by an individual, a family or an entire village for a particular special day. A puppet troupe can consist of up to 30 people who are all directed by the dalang. The dalang is the puppet master that organizes the entire troupe: he is referred to as a master musician, an epic storyteller, a comic wonder and even a deep philosopher. Some dalangs even have the power to perform exorcisms! Dalang's are also similar to a spiritual guide: they tell epic tales about gods and goddesses and other spiritual beings: they are similar to a priest, a reverend or any other type of religious leader. A Wayang Golek Dalang operates puppets in front of a crowd. The Dalang sits on a raised platform in the centre of a crown of people. He can operate several puppets at once by using an ingenious device called: the banana log. The banana log is a long, rectangular and has several holes drilled into it. It is used to stabilize puppets so that the Dalang can operate more than one puppet at the same time. Puppet training begins usually at the age of 10-12, and the young puppeteer often trains with a relative.
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1900
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 26 in (66.04 cm)Width: 5 in (12.7 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 1158d1stDibs: LU60532567801
More From This SellerView All
  • "Mossi Head dress Mas ceremonies Rep Upper Volta, " Wood created c. 1910
    Located in Milwaukee, WI
    "Mossi Head dress Mas ceremonies Rep Upper Volta" is a wood sculpture that includes various other materials such as fabric, and fibers. An abstracted animal with a hump and a bird on it's back make up the top of the headdress. 27" x 6" x 1" The Mossi states were created about 1500 A.D., when bands of horsemen rode north from what is now northern Ghana into the basin of the Volta River and conquered several less powerful peoples, including Dogon, Lela, Nuna, and Kurumba. These were integrated into a new society call Mossi, with the invaders as chiefs and the conquered as commoners. The Mossi make both political art and spiritual art. Figures are used by the ruling class to validate political power, and masks are used by the conquered peoples to control the forces of nature. The several mask styles reflect the diversity of the population before the 15th century invasion. Long tall masks...
    Category

    1910s Tribal Abstract Sculptures

    Materials

    Fabric, Wood

  • "Indonesian Golek Puppet (Male), " Handmade with Carved, Painted Wood and Fabric
    Located in Milwaukee, WI
    This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 28 1/2" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be compared to European and North America: most performances revolve around Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses who fight against evil, mystical, beings to (usually) end happily. Three-dimensional Indonesian puppets...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Wood, Textile

  • "Indonesian Golek Puppet (Male), " Handmade with Carved Painted Wood & Fabric
    Located in Milwaukee, WI
    This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 26" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be comp...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Wood, Textile

  • "Indonesian Golek Puppet (Male), " Handmade Carved, Painted Wood & Fabric c. 1900
    Located in Milwaukee, WI
    This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 27" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be comp...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Wood, Textile

  • "Indonesian Golek Puppet (Male), " Handmade Carved, Painted Wood & Fabric c. 1900
    Located in Milwaukee, WI
    This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 23" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be comp...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Wood, Textile

  • "Indonesian Golek Puppet (Male), " Handmade with Carved, Painted Wood and Fabric
    Located in Milwaukee, WI
    This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 28" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be comp...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Wood, Textile

You May Also Like
  • Fortune Cookie Strawberry Bear
    By Keith Young
    Located in Kansas City, MO
    Keith Young Fortune Cookie Strawberry Bear Collage on Canvas; Rubber, Glue, Wood, Cotton Canvas Year: 2022 Size: 9x2.5in Signed by hand COA provided Rea...
    Category

    2010s Pop Art Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Wire

  • Bart is watching you
    By Keith Young
    Located in Kansas City, MO
    Keith Young Bart is watching you Collage on Canvas; Rubber, Glue, Wood, Cotton Canvas Year: 2022 Size: 13.5x2.5in Signed by hand COA provided Ready to hang Ref.: 924802-11330 ------...
    Category

    2010s Pop Art Paintings

    Materials

    Wire

  • RED BLACK BRILLO BOX Pop Art Louis Vuitton Warhol sculpture by Charles Lutz
    By Charles Lutz
    Located in Brooklyn, NY
    RED BLACK BRILLO Acrylic on canvas with leather and brass fittings over wood. 17 x 17 x 14" (43.18 x 43.18 x 35.56 cm.) 2019 The sculpture was recently featured in the Elle Decor Art Issue and one of the artist's most iconic works. The series Lutz refers to as "Luxury Sculptures" are based on the forms of Louis Vuitton trunks in combination with the box sculptures of Andy Warhol. Lutz began this series in 2008. The works aim to create a feedback loop. Where Warhol elevated consumer products like Brillo and Heinz Ketchup...
    Category

    21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Sculptures

    Materials

    Brass

  • Magic Mushroom, Sculpture
    By Yunior Marino
    Located in Miami Beach, FL
    Magic Mushroom, 2020 by Yunior Manino Wood and cloth Image size: 200 H X 80 W cm x 80 D Signed by the artist and Certificate of Authenticity Unique Weig...
    Category

    2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures

    Materials

    Wood, Textile

  • Peyote, Sculpture
    By Yunior Marino
    Located in Miami Beach, FL
    Peyote, 2022 by Yunior Manino Wood and cloth Size: 62.9 H X 64.9 W x 31.4 D inches. Edition of 3 Certificate of Authenticity _______ The sculptural work developed by Yunior Marino...
    Category

    2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures

    Materials

    Textile, Wood

  • Acapulco Dragon, Sculpture
    By Yunior Marino
    Located in Miami Beach, FL
    Acapulco Dragon, 2020 by Yunior Manino Wood, rattan, and plastic strips Image size: 240 H X 130 W cm x 130 D Certificate of authenticity _______ Yunior Marino completed his studies ...
    Category

    2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures

    Materials

    Textile, Wood

Recently Viewed

View All