Javanese shadow puppet

PART OF:
The Kodak Museum Collection
Made:
1900-1950 in Java
Shadow Puppet, Java Javanese shadow puppet

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Shadow Puppet, Java
The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford
Science Museum Group Collection

Javanese shadow puppet
The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford
Science Museum Group Collection

Javanese shadow puppet or Wayang Kulit puppet ; male figure; gilded and painted leather; articulated. Possibly the figure of Hanuman.

This Shadow Puppet was made in Java. Shadow plays, which may be regarded as an extremely early precursor of cinema, originated in Java and India some thousands of years ago. These thin leather puppets are intricately perforated and painted and depict figures in folklore. They are manipulated by rods in front of a translucent screen, lit from behind so that the puppet is seen in silhouette. These are still in use today.

Details

Category:
Cinematography
Collection:
Kodak Collection
Object Number:
1990-5036/6534
Materials:
leather, wood (unidentified), paint and gold leaf
type:
shadow puppet
credit:
The Kodak Collection at the National Media Museum, Bradford