Shadow Puppets of Kedah

Gandamana, Central Javanese Shadow Puppet

Item

Title

Gandamana, Central Javanese Shadow Puppet

Description

Gandamana, the chief minister in the court of Pandu. Gandamana only appears in Javanese versions of the Mahabharata. Gandamana is an assertive and bold character which is reflected in his large round-eyes, forward gaze and wide stance. Gandamana is one of three central Javanese shadow puppet figures that appear in the Banks collection. These characters were not used in performances in Kedah in 1974. Banks acquired these puppets from a Malaysian government shop in Kuala Lumpur. Pigment on all the Javanese shadow puppets has been applied in the form of paint and does not permeate the leather. All of the shadows cast by these puppets are opaque and black in contrast to the translucent colorized shadows of the puppets in the Banks collection. Height: 54.5 cm, Width: 24.3 cm, width including moveable right and left arm extended: 44.5 cm

Attribution

Malaysian government shop in Kuala Lumpur

Date

Acquisition date 1974

Character

Gandamana

Color

black, red, green, pink, blue, and gold pigment

Material

Cowhide, fiber cording, buffalo horn rods

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