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A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF A DEITY WITH RAM HEAD
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12月16日 晚上6点 开拍 /5天4小时
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A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF A DEITY WITH RAM HEAD

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 100-101, fig. 052.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). Finely modeled in terracotta, this rare hybrid figure features a human body and the head of a ram. The expression is calm, with curved coiled horns, pendulous goat-like ears, and a tufted beard. A floral tiara crowns the head, enhancing the figure’s ceremonial appearance. The body is seated in a semi-kneeling pose atop a tiered circular base decorated with floral motifs. The left leg is folded beneath the body while the right knee is raised. The torso is bare, and the lower body is wrapped in a loincloth tied at the waist. A thick, twisted necklace suspending a bell hangs at the neck, complemented by bracelets and anklets.

The iconography may refer to Naigamesha, the protector and benefactor of children in Jainism, who is worshipped to ensure fertility and safe childbirth. Alternatively, the figure may represent Nara-Aja, a local form possibly associated with the Hindu fire god Agni, given the ram’s role as his vahana. The use of goat or ram features across multiple traditions often symbolizes fertility, vitality, and sacrifice.

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. 60 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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