Indonesia, Bali or Java, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A finely carved and exquisitely painted sculpture depicting a graceful pair of apsara (or bidadari in Indonesian/Malay) figures, dressed in refined gold and red garments and traditional pointed headdresses, both making elegant hand gestures and captured in the midst of their dance or 'flight' atop a cloud base. An apsara is a female spirit of the waters and the clouds in both Buddhist and Hindu mythology. As we see in this example, they are usually depicted as beautiful celestial maidens, oftentimes in flying positions. These lovely ladies actually have wings attached to the sleeves of their gowns. According to Javanese and Balinese mythology, the apsaras had a special assignment to seduce ascetics so that they would not become more powerful than the gods. A beautiful work of Indonesian art replete with fine artistry, technique, and symbolic iconography. Size: 8.5" W x 26.5" H (21.6 cm x 67.3 cm)

Provenance: Ex-private Haig collection, Minnesota

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#116926

Minor surface wear and pigment loss commensurate with age, else intact and excellent.