Puppets
Masks
Folk Toys

Shadow puppets in Java, Indonesia
In Java, only the best sanggar workshops are permitted to provide puppets for the Sultans' palaces. These are among the workshops from which purchases Javanese wayang kulit.

The finest Javanese wayang kulit are traditionally made of the supple hide of a young female water buffalo, with water buffalo horn for the rods and support stick, and water buffalo bone for the tiny arm hinges. By using all water buffalo parts, the artisan “brings the water buffalo back together,” honoring the animal whose life was given to make wayang kulit.

Rod Puppets/Wayang Golek

Wayang golek are three-dimensional, painted, wooden puppets from Indonesia, which developed from wayang kulit shadow puppets. Although the puppets were once carved by the dalang puppeteer himself, now sanggar workshops specialize in creating their style of puppets, and only a few provide the traditional styles required by the dalang. These puppets must be of a standard size with the head being the most important feature, created by a highly skilled artisan. Assistants may create the body, arms and manipulating sticks, while wives and female relatives provide the clothing and accessories.

Most characters are standardized and all Indonesians easily recognize them by certain traits. Slightly bowed heads, light-colored faces, slim bodies, and narrow eyes denote refinement, modesty or aristocracy. Curved headdresses are worn by warriors and young noblemen. Large bodies, open mouths, large teeth, coored faces and bulging round eyes all denote stronger characters with emotuional personalities, rough or crude characters, and red faces are evil demons.

During the 15th century the Majapahit kings of West Java standardized elaborate wayang golek forms and used them in their court performances. Their popularity soon spread to the courts of Central Java, who in turn created their own unique styles, mostly to perform the wayang golek cepak, stories which center on Islam. Even so, the oldest form, called wayang golek purwa, is highly popular and still practiced in West Java, including performances of the ancient Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabarata. (More about the wayang stories)

Wayang Golek in Java, Indonesia
In Central Java, a few artisans still make the traditional styles of wayang golek, with simpler features, painted in muted oil paints, and dressed in real batik cloth. These are the workshops from which In Their Hands purchases wayang golek. (More about the artisans)

The oldest styles of wayang golek originated in West Java with the Sunda people, who still make most of the wayang golek in Indonesia. The earliest puppets were painted mostly in natural browns, creams, and black, with painted on faces, headcloths, hats and hair, and were dressed in natural-dyed batik cloth. The style said to have originated as early as the Pajajaran kingdom in the 12th century.

Antique Rod Puppets / Wayang Golek

carries a limited number of antique wayang golek collected by Indonesians and provided as long as supplies last. Antique puppets are becoming harder to find and are highly prized, even in museum collections and by dalang puppeteers. These old figures are said to have a spirit or jiwa, and are treated with great respect. ITH only buys from reputable dealers.

Topeng Masks in Indonesia

The variety of masks in Indonesia is enormous. Masks are still used in Indonesia to perform sacred and historical plays. In Their Hands carries only the finest masks, many made by artisans who also still fill orders for traditional performances or the local temple.

Topeng: Masks of Java

Most traditional topeng in Java are meant for use in dance dramas based on the Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabarata, or based on the lives of historical Javanese characters like Panji. (More about the wayang stories) Javanese masks are usually made from lightweight wood, with eye-slits for the dancer to see through, and worn by holding a leather thong in the teeth of the dancer.

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