Vintage 21.5" Hanoman Wayang Golek rod puppet, Hanuman Indonesian Sudanese

...traditional theatre puppet, Hindu Buddhist Monkey god A beautifully hand carved and painted wood and fabric rod puppet, as traditionally used in Indonesian / West Javanese puppet theatre. Dressed in patterned Batik fabric with hand embroidered beaded decoration, this doll is in good vintage condition with signs of age but strong pigments and good detailing. The central rod is removable from the head - this one is a replacement from another puppet and looks slightly too long for the head. The arms with some scuffing and different skin tone from the body and head. Marked "Hanoman" on the body; Hanoman or Hanuman is considered the God of Wisdom, Strength, Courage, Devotion and Self-Discipline. There are a lot of stories in Hindu and Buddhist literature that mention this deity with a monkey-like appearance. Dates ca 1950 - 1970s Size: ca 54 cm (21.5") **** THE STAND DOES NOT COME INCLUDED**** Dating back to the 16th century, Wayang golek were used to tell stories of Hindu epics, Javanese histories, and the Islamic Menmak cycle, which recounts the many adventures of Amir Hamzah, Muhammad’s uncle. The dalang, or puppet master, moved the puppets and spoke their parts, often set to the music of a gamelan orchestra. Performances took place in villages during holidays and festivals. This style of theatre has been designated by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage since 2003.