The Chinese phoenix in the Sawunggaling motif

The Chinese phoenix in the Sawunggaling motif as expressed by the late Go Tik Swan, Panembahan Hardjonagoro in his Batik Indonesia creations from the mid 1950s at the behest of Ir. Soekarno, the founding president of the republic.

This was supposed to represent the sacred bloodletting of a cockfight in Bali which Hardjonagoro ingeniously adapted in the form of a Chinese phoenix spread over the standard size kain panjang.

The earliest versions had plain backgrounds, while subsequent versions had banyu mili, or multiple small dots forming the background.

A contemporary Sawunggaling with that same touch from the Hardjonagoro atelier today.

A rare pair of miniature Solonese Bedhaya cupboards / lemari bedhaya

A rare pair of miniature Solonese Bedhaya cupboards / Lemari Bedhaya

teakwood, goldleaf gilt and pigments

circa 19th century

Dimensions: Height 99 cm x Width 43 cm x Depth 24 cm

Such cupboards are usually used in the sacred space within the central bay of a Javanese house known as the senthong and are placed one on each side of the krobongan structure.

They are used to store incense used for offerings and fragrant herbs known as ratus which (when burnt and the resultant smoke) forms part of the ritual preparation of a Javanese bride. They may also be used to store heirloom textiles and betelnut paraphernalia which are included as offerings before the krobongan in the dalem of the house.

Please inquire.

Interested/Berminat: Hub:

Sojourner Antiques

Works of Art

Bogor, West Java

Email: tjhiebk@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +6281378137283