Large Collection of 29 Indonesian Wayang Kulit Puppets, Mid 20th C. Provenance: Ex. ARCO Chemical Company Collection. Size: Ranging from: 14'' x 8.5'' (36 x 22 cm) to 27'' x 13'' (69 x 33 cm). Village theater is the most powerful means of expression of traditional Javanese culture. The "Wayang," or puppet play, takes place in village squares, in courtyards, or in the streets. Wayang is played for the community whenever there is a celebration, most commonly a wedding or the birth of a child. The performance lasts from sunset to shortly before sunrise and, although the characters are fixed in tradition, the theater is often used to reveal and comment on current political and social conditions. These puppets, after generations of performances in the villages and islands of East Java and Bali, were acquired by ARCO Chemical Company in 1988.

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