Realism

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

Bust of an elderly man, first half of the 20th century, 27 cm Although less popular than busts of young men or women , busts of the elderly appear to have been produced in significant numbers during the first half of the 20th century. The most refined pieces date from this period. Male busts seem to have enjoyed slightly more success - or at least, among the productions of this era, they are easier to find today than female busts. As is often the case in modern Balinese sculp

Children at Play by I Made Kania (signature on the underside), second half of the 20th century, 24 x 14 x 11 cm Seated at his desk, computer glowing, the collector has placed his latest acquisition before him. He has resolved to write an article about it. Yet, concentration is hard to come by: in his old building, where the soundproofing is poor, the noises of the neighborhood are frequent, and judging by the thuds echoing through the ceiling, the young children of the couple

Young woman holding a flower and a mirror by a sculptor from the Njana Tilem Gallery, between 1970 and 2000, 31 cm, private collection Probably created between the 1970s and 1990s, the sculpture is carved from Macassar ebony, a dark wood streaked with reddish veins. It depicts a young woman kneeling, her legs folded to one side. With her head tilted, she gazes at a flower she holds between the fingertips of her right hand. In her other hand, she holds a mirror. She is simply

A Balinese couple: young woman by I Wayan Gog, 30 cm; young man by I Made Pait, 36,5 cm, 1930s–1940s, private collection Balinese busts have been among the most cherished souvenirs for visitors to the island since the 1930s. And it is undeniably in the first half of the 20th century that the finest pieces were produced—whether busts of women, men, young or old, or janger (or djanger) dancer busts with their wide headdresses decorated with floral motifs. Figures of young adult

Reclining Woman, first half of the 20th century, 25 x 12.8 cm, private collection Sleep is a recurring motif in modern Balinese sculpture. It is the central theme of reclining figures set against a flat background, as illustrated by this example. These figures often appear in pairs: a sleeping man and a sleeping woman, the latter sometimes accompanied by a child. They seem to have been popular between the 1930s and 1960s. They can be found in the wayang style as well as in a