A vintage Balinese hand-carved statue of the Hindu god Vishnu on his vahana, or mount, Garuda. Dates from around the1960s / 70s, from Ubud, Batuan and the surrounding villages in central Bali.
Lacewing-Interiors first touched down in Bali as long ago as the late 70s, early 80s, before the Aussies arrived en masse, and Kuta had one hotel. Yes, one. Called, somewhat imaginatively, the Kuta Beach Hotel, the concept of Kuta with just a single hotel now seems incredulous, the strip running ever northwards for mile after mile up the coast.
What hasn't changed is the gentle spirit of the Balinese people and their dedication to art and the spiritual, particularly in the interior. Wood-carving, in particular, is a revered art form going back centuries. The woodcarving villages of Tegallalang and Jati north of Ubud, along with the route from Mas to Peliatan having changed little, and continue to
showcase the time honoured skills of Balinese woodcarvers.
Familiar, recurring themes being statues of Hindu deities and mythological characters, as here, as well as panels of historic scenes from Hindu epic poems like the Mahabharata, and panels of local Balinese life.
This carving depicts Garuda's rescue of his mother from the nagas, or serpent race, one of the most famous episodes from the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahābhārata. Vishnu is riding his divine mount, or vahana, Garuda with his eagle beak and outstretched wings symbolising his divine power.
Three further images of Garuda are featured in the lower scene attacking a naga or dragon, representing his victory over the serpent world for enslaved his mother.
Hand-carved from Balinese saur wood, or perhaps teak, it's in excellent condition for its age with no cracks as is often the case in vintage Balinese wooden statues due to the Balinese tropical climate. There is, however, minor damage to the elaborate feathered wing carving to Garuda's left. SEE IMAGES 12, 13 & 14. (Not recent, but factored into the price.)
In a similar vein we have a second example of a Balinese statue of Vishnu on Garuda. Such is the nature of hand-carved pieces it displays different carved detailing. SHOWN IN THE BACKGROUND IN IMAGES 3 & 21
We also have a polychrome painted wooden Balinese statue of Ganesha on offer. SEE LAST TWO IMAGES AND SEPARATE LISTING. All exquisitely carved artefacts from that mythological island that is Bali. Please look at the images as they form part of the description.
Height: 31 cms. Width: 15 cms. Depth: 9 cms. Weight: 0.987 Kgs.
Price: £95.00. VINTAGE BALINESE MYTHOLOGICAL PAINTING FOR DISPLAY ONLY, AND NOT INCLUDED. ONE OF SEVERAL AVAILABLE IN A SEPARATE LISTINGS.
Postage: £12.95 UK mainland dispatch by ParcelForce 48 tracked courier service. For overseas dispatch refer to details of eBay's GSP, Global Shipping Programme, by clicking on SEE DETAILS in the postage section under the BUY IT NOW button.
SKU number: 12831.
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