Gandamana, Central Javanese Shadow Puppet

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