Hand-Painted Gouache on Linen • Original Carved Teak Frame • Mid-Century Indonesian Fine Art • Garey–Ross Family Estate
Price adjusted — firm
A superb, large-format example of the Balinese Batuan School, signed “Eka Thai Bali” lower right. Executed in opaque gouache on linen, the composition depicts bathing women, temple dancers, tropical flora, and mythic animal forms surrounding sacred Balinese architecture. Dense layering of green, umber, and indigo tones creates the signature “story-within-a-story” narrative that defines mid-century Ubud and Batuan atelier painting.
Measuring approximately 31 × 20 inches (79 × 51 cm) in its original carved teakwood frame, this work is far larger and more intricate than typical tourist-scale pieces from the 1960s–1970s export period. Its monumental size, color depth, and crisp brushwork mark it as a studio-level collectible suitable for gallery or interior display.
The Batuan School arose in the 1930s in the village of Batuan near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, when temple painters blended Hindu-Balinese mythology with Western techniques introduced by Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet. By the 1960s–1970s, artists such as Eka Thai continued this lineage, signing works with names ending in “Bali” to assure authenticity for international collectors. Each painting is a meditative panorama of village life and spiritual symbolism, crafted with thousands of tiny brushstrokes that reward close study.
Excellent vintage condition. Surface clean and stable; pigments rich and unfaded. No tears, flaking, or repairs. Linen shows only faint natural toning consistent with age. The original carved teakwood frame is solid and beautifully preserved, with light edge wear and warm patina only—no cracks or warping. Recently re-taped with archival linen hinging tape on the reverse to stabilize the canvas and replace aging masking tape. Ready to hang. Stored in a smoke-free, temperature-controlled estate collection.
From the Garey–Ross Family Estate Collection, descending from Admiral Albert Ross (U.S. Navy) through Alice Ross Garey (1890–1979) and Barbara Ross Garey, California. Acquired during Pacific and Asian travels and preserved with other fine Balinese and Chinese export artworks. Full written provenance accompanies the sale.
Included in the photo gallery is a family archival image of Admiral Albert Ross and his descendants Alice Ross Garey and Barbara Ross Garey, illustrating the lineage of ownership within the Garey–Ross Estate Collection.
Comparable large Batuan School paintings (30 in and larger) by Eka Thai and related mid-century Balinese artists routinely realize $850 – $1,100 USD in gallery and auction settings, with framed examples occasionally exceeding $1,200.
A magnificent, large-format Balinese Batuan School original — richly detailed, vividly colored, and steeped in mythic symbolism.
The Garey–Ross Family Estate Collection spans three generations of naval and world-travel heritage, from Admiral Albert Ross (U.S. Navy) through Alice Ross Garey (1890–1979). The collection preserves fine art, jewelry, and Asian export works acquired during Pacific service and mid-century diplomatic travel.
Estate of Garey–Ross Family Collection • California (2025)