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A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF A MAKARA
奥地利
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 FIGURE OF A MAKARA

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 83, fig. 043.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). Finely modeled in terracotta, this dynamic sculpture represents a makara, its fish-like body curving upward in a powerful arc. The movement culminates in a vertical, spreading tail that supports a deep bowl, likely intended for ritual use such as holding offerings or oil. The sharply angled head resembles that of a shark, with a wide-open mouth revealing rows of sharp teeth, flanked by a pair of wing-like fins. The body is detailed with incised scales and rests on a hemispherical base decorated with triangular motifs.

The makara is a powerful composite creature from Indian mythology, often associated with the Ganges River and believed to possess the ability to cleanse sins and bestow immortality through its sacred waters. Traditionally described as having the head of an elephant and the body of a fish, this variant aligns more closely with the Balinese Gaja-mina, or other local interpretations, resembling a crocodile or river dolphin. In Majapahit sculpture, the makara was commonly employed as a guardian figure at the mouths of fountains.

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. 83 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare to a closely related Javanese terracotta figure of a Makara, 13th-14th century, in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), accession number M.86.345.17. Another related Indonesian terracotta figure of a Makara is in the Musée Guimet.

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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