Elongated Style

A major goddess Sarasvati is one of the three principal goddesses of the Tridevi (the supreme trinity in its feminine form), alongside Lakshmi and Parvati. She is associated with the creator god Brahma, either as his creation or as his consort. As the goddess of knowledge and the arts—particularly music—tradition credits her with the invention of Sanskrit. Her mount is a white goose or a swan. Certain representations influenced by Indian iconography depict her with four arms,

Female figure (Dewi Sri?) by I Wayan Wiri, between 1950 and 1976, 73 cm, private collection At 73 cm in height, this sculpture is the tallest in my collection. What does it represent? I have no certainty on this point, but it may depict the goddess Dewi Sri. Dressed in a long gown, the figure holds a fold of fabric against her breast with one hand. Resting on her left forearm is a fragrant pudak—the inflorescence of Pandanus amaryllifolius, a plant widely cultivated in Indone