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A UNIQUE MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA HEAD OF A WOMAN
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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
拍品描述

Description

A UNIQUE MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA HEAD OF A WOMAN

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 137, fig. 077.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). This terracotta head represents a Majapahit woman, likely of elite status. The face is softly modeled, with almond-shaped eyes, full lips, and a composed expression. The hairstyle is distinctive, featuring a large, asymmetrical double bun extending backward in a flat, curved shape. The ears are adorned with large, disc-shaped ornaments resembling open flowers, which stretch the earlobes outward in a stylized manner. The combination of elaborate hair and heavy earplugs suggests a person of wealth and social standing, proud of her formal appearance.

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. The dark surface may result from burial in the mud of the Brantas River.

Dimensions: Size approx. 22 x 19 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare to a related terracotta head of a woman, Majapahit empire, in the Cleveland Museum of Art, registration number 1963.679. Another related terracotta female head, Java, 14th – 15th century, is in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Accession no. EA1996.14.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 10 December 2012, lot 5367
Price: USD 4,000 or approx. EUR 5,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A terracotta head of a deity, Java, Majapahit period, 14th-16th century
Expert remark: Compare the related facial features. Note the smaller size (16.4 cm).

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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价格信息

拍品估价:1,000 - 2,000 欧元 起拍价格:1,000 欧元  买家佣金: 35.00%

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