Mythical Creatures and Figures

Kadru, probably first half of the 20th century, 24.5 cm, private collection In Hindu tradition, nagas are mythical beings that take the form of snakes. They have an ambivalent nature: the body of the naga Vasuki is used by the gods and demons to extract the nectar of immortality (amrita) during the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, but the venom of nagas can also bring death, and it is the bite of Takshaka, king of the nagas, that kills King Parikshit, leading his son Janamejaya

Left: seated girl, 1930s or 1940s, height: 13.5 cm. Right: a rakshasa, probably first half of the 20th century, height: 15 cm, private collection In a first article, I reviewed a series of criteria that can help guide the selection of a modern Balinese sculpture: harmony of forms, the quality of their definition, the quality of the finish, complexity, period, subject category, and style. Here is the continuation of that reflection, with four additional criteria. Rarity of the

Legong dancer, 1930s or 1940s, 28 cm, private collection (detail) Collecting is a passion that involves making choices and compromises. When one sets out to collect modern Balinese sculpture, the question of what to choose is all the more difficult because the available pieces come from a context marked by several decades of remarkably abundant craft production. Among the vast quantity of objects now offered on the resale market, how does one distinguish those that deserve pa

A Makara, before 1971, 30 × 19 × 13 cm, private collection The sculpture depicts a makara, a motif found in numerous representations from India to Southeast Asia, including China. The makara is a mythical creature associated with the aquatic realm. Its features draw from those of the elephant, the crocodile, and the dolphin. Endowed with a protective function, its image is often placed on the thresholds of palaces or temples, such as at Borobudur, as shown in the picture belo