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A MAJAPAHIT TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF A PUNAKAWAN, ROYAL SERVANT
奥地利
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 PUNAKAWAN, ROYAL SERVANT

Published: Editor Paolo Bertuzzi; Author Agus Aris Munandar: Majapahit: Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom, 2023, p. 127, fig. 069.

Indonesia, East Java, Trowulan area, Majapahit Empire (1297-1527). This terracotta figure represents a punakawan, a type of servant or companion to a noble hero in Javanese courtly tradition. The character is shown seated on a cylindrical base, his legs bent, with both hands resting on his knees respectively belly. His face is rounded, with pronounced features including a thin mustache, and he wears large circular earrings and a high ponytail. A simple necklace and visible markings, including nipples and navel, are modeled clearly on the torso. The base is decorated with the typical vegetal motifs. The body is rounded and slightly exaggerated, in keeping with the playful or humble nature of punakawan characters. The figure likely represents Juru Dyah (also Jurudeh), a known punakawan from Majapahit literature.

The punakawan tradition appears in temple art from at least the 14th century, first recorded at Candi Jago. By the 15th century, these figures became increasingly common in both reliefs and sculpture. This terracotta example attests to their continued popularity and cultural relevance in Majapahit society, blending humor and courtly loyalty into a sculptural form.

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. 50 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a related terracotta figure of a religious man, published in ‘Majapahit terracotta: The Soedarmadji Jean Henrz Damais Collection, 2012, p. 92-93, catalogue no. AD0063.

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:2,000 - 4,000 欧元 起拍价格:2,000 欧元  买家佣金: 30.00%

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