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A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURAL INCENSE BURNER AS A MOUNTAIN CAVE
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09月12日 下午5点 开拍 / 09月10日 下午3点 截止委托
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Description

A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURAL INCENSE BURNER AS A MOUNTAIN CAVE

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 44-45, fig. 014.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). The cylindrical body is richly decorated in high relief with dense swirling vegetal motifs encircling a central pierced structure resembling a hermitage or pavilion. On one side, two slender female figures stand in elegant repose, their torsos adorned with jewelry and their hair arranged in elaborate coiffures, suggesting high status or courtly affiliation. Opposite them, a pair of grazing goats emerges from the surface, adding a touch of pastoral serenity to the composition.

The iconography may reference a scene from the Mahabharata, specifically the story of Shakuntala’s daughter and her maiden attendants dwelling in the forest. The pierced central section evokes the patapan, or hermit’s abode, reinforcing the narrative reading of the scene as one of retreat and feminine grace in a natural setting. The object likely functioned as the lid of a kapuradani (incense burner), its openwork design allowing fragrant smoke to escape. Beyond its utilitarian purpose, the composition conveys a delicate interplay between myth, nature, and devotion.

Provenance: Acquired in the Trowulan area at the end of the 20th century by Paolo Bertuzzi, thence by descent. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943–2022), was a fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. He was the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, founder of Hettabretz, a noted Italian fashion company with customers such as the Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother’s business and designed exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, USA. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes both archaic and contemporary art. He also edited two important books on Asian art: Goa Made – An Archaeological Discovery and Majapahit – Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, both documenting major excavation projects carried out in collaboration with the respective national governments of Indonesia and Italy.
Condition: Presenting well and in stable, restored condition. Exhibiting areas of loss and cracking, with associated surface wear, soil encrustations, and weathering, all consistent with age and material.

Dimensions: Height approx. 58 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a related terracotta mountain landscape with a hermit, Majapahit empire, in the Museum Majapahit Trowulan, see a photograph in the New York Public Library, image ID 1124886. Compare a related terracotta figure of a mountain landscape with figures, Majapahit empire, in the Gubug Wayang Museum, Indonesia. Another related terracotta pilar base is published in ‘Majapahit terracotta: The Soedarmadji Jean Henrz Damais Collection, 2012, p. 50-51, catalogue no. AD0070.

The Majapahit Empire, which flourished in East Java, Indonesia, from the late 13th to the early 16th century, was one of Southeast Asia’s most influential Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, renowned for its cultural sophistication and far-reaching political power. Under the reign of King Hayam Wuruk (1350–1389), Majapahit’s capital, Trowulan, emerged as a vibrant center of religious devotion and artistic production. Among the most distinctive legacies of the Majapahit period is its prolific use of terracotta, employed for both utilitarian and symbolic purposes.

Terracotta artifacts from the Majapahit Empire include figurines, architectural elements such as roof tiles, bricks, and columns, as well as everyday objects like water jars, stoves, vases, and piggy banks. These works provide invaluable insight into the daily life, attire, belief systems, and social structures of the time. Majapahit terracotta figures depict a wide range of subjects, from deities, dancers, and mythical beasts to animals and common people, reflecting both the religious and secular dimensions of the empire’s artistic output.

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拍品估价:3,000 - 6,000 欧元 起拍价格:3,000 欧元  买家佣金: 35.00%

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