Female half figure ·  Indonesia - Java · ID: 3040269

Description

wood, polychrome painted, idealized mask-like facial features, bun hairstyle, richly adorned with earplugs from set glass stones and painted necklace, clothed with bustier, broad belt and hip cloth with floral design, labelled at the back and on the bottom with inventory number of the Lindenmuseum Stuttgart “90082 L.1365./200 Java Be. Kwatkoen”, slightly dam. (nose), minor missing parts at the lower rim, crack backside;
the fact that the yellowish paint can be found on the face and on the body as well implies that the figure depicts a character form the Indonesian mythology or a divine being. Idealized portraits of women of noble origin always show a light facial paint, presumably representing make-up, for the skin of the rest of their bodies is dark in colour.