An ancient Balinese art form using hand tied brass Chinese coins ( Kepeng) to form sculptures of revered deities often given as gifts for weddings and other cultural ceremonies due to the special powers attributed to the coins themselves. This example depict the Goddess Dewi Sri , the deity of rice, fertility & prosperity. Since rice was the currency of the Balinese people they chose to use the brass coins of the chinese that were introduced to their nation in the 7th century as a means of endowing their icons to the gods and goddesses with the powers of the coins. This example has been tied with cotton thread, using approximately 90 coins to create the head and body then accented with gilded carved wood hands and feet as well as an ornately carved head and headdress. The design elements ( sashes) of the arm, wrist, waist , ankles and neck are of fenestrated stiff parchment like material that has also been gilded. The coins each show the chinese characters and patina expected of an example from the early 1900's. 17 inches high by 3 inches wide at hips, 3.5 inches wide at shoulder Condition: The right foot is missing. Time has worn some of the gilding and stiffened the material used for orimentation. All knot work and other elements are intact.

See description & images