eBay

Condition:

Leather intact, with intricate cut-work detailing preserved.
Painting still vivid, though the gray puppet shows extensive surface wear and flaking; green puppet retains stronger color.
Minor losses, fragile in places, small cracks, and repair ties at joints, typical of vintage examples.
Retain original bamboo shafts and metal control rods.

Condition: Both puppets are structurally intact and retain their original bamboo shafts and metal control rods, with jointed arms that still articulate properly. The hand-painted decoration remains colorful, though one puppet (gray figure) shows significant surface wear and flaking to the paint, while the other (green figure) retains brighter color with lighter rubbing and small areas of loss. The intricate cut-work in the hide is generally well preserved, with only minor edge losses and small cracks typical of vintage examples. Some joints show old string ties and light repairs. Overall, they display well as a vintage pair, with honest wear consistent with age and use.

PACKING:

Since these are older and fragile, i will be taking extra care with shipping. Both puppets will be wrapped in acid free paper, then wrapped gently with small bubble wrap, They will then be placed between stiff cardboard pieces and placed in a larger box for shipping. UPS ground is generally the most cost effective way to ship oversized packages but if you are closer to NC where I am located, USPS might be a better choice -- I have offered both w/ calculated shipping so you can choose the one which is best for you. Boxed these will have a dimensions of approx 30 x 14 x 9 and about 8 lbs. Ships w/ tracking and insurance.

Dimensions:

(unboxed)

Height (with rod): approx. 55 in (61 cm)
Width: approx. 5 in (30 cm) arms closed

Pair of traditional Indonesian Wayang Kulit shadow puppets, hand-cut from hide and painted in vivid colors with detailed perforated ornamentation, mounted on bamboo and metal rods. Each puppet has articulated arms, allowing the puppeteer (dalang) to animate gestures during performance.

Use & Collectibility:
These puppets were likely made for performance or export trade in the mid-20th century, and today they are collected both as decorative folk art and as tangible expressions of Southeast Asian cultural heritage. Matched pairs such as this — one demonic/antagonistic figure and one comic servant — illustrate the dramatic contrasts central to Wayang storytelling.

Wayang Kulit is the centuries-old form of shadow theater in Java and Bali, recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Performances are staged behind a linen screen, with an oil lamp or electric bulb projecting the puppets’ shadows for an audience. The dalang manipulates dozens of figures in a single night-long telling of episodes from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, interwoven with local legends and comic interludes.

The figures here appear to represent:

Green demon/ogre figure — likely a raksasa or monstrous ally/enemy character from the Mahabharata cycle. Characterized by bulging eyes, fang-like teeth, and brightly painted costume.
Clown-servant figure (punakawan type) — gray-skinned with exaggerated features, associated with comic relief and moral commentary. These characters (Semar, Petruk, Gareng, Bagong) are unique to Javanese theater and are beloved for their mix of humor and wisdom.

Dating:

Based on materials, painting style, and condition, these are most consistent with mid-20th century examples (circa 1950s–1970s).
The paints are colorful but show age flaking; the bamboo rods are smooth but not heavily patinated, which aligns with vintage but not antique use.
Earlier (19th-century) puppets tend to use natural pigments with deeper patina, heavier parchment, and evidence of prolonged ritual use.

Cultural Significance:
Wayang Kulit puppets are not merely decorative — they are integral to a living performance tradition blending drama, music (gamelan), spirituality, and political commentary. The dalang was historically both entertainer and moral teacher, using shadow theater as a vehicle for philosophical lessons and social satire.

SHIPPING

PorterMonkey Books is a small family business that specializes in out-of-print, scarce, niche, vintage and even some quite rare items. We ship every order with care. Please feel free to message me with any additional questions. All orders are inspected carefully and we try to be as accurate as possible with all descriptions. Pictures are an important part of the description, please check carefully before bidding. Shipped promptly with tracking.

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