Sita (Rama's wife) wayang kulit (shadow puppet) from Ramayana series. Flat shadow puppet cut from hide, with long arms jointed with pins at the shoulders and elbows. She has long black hair which extends down her back. She wears a short ornate dress. The tips of the thumb and index are held together, while keeping the other fingers straight (Mudra). Operated by three horn rods.

• History Of Use

  Wayang kulit shadow play is over 1000 years old. It is thought to be derived from the leather shadow puppetry traditions of southern India, like tholu bommalata, which came to Java with the spread of Hinduism in the first millennium. In Java - part of the largely Islamic Republic of Indonesia - this highly distinctive form of shadow puppetry is valued as a pusaka, a sacred treasure of the royal court of Yogyakarta. They are inspired by the Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as stories of the history and folklore of Java, with a local spin. The plays are performed to mark special occasions such as birthdays, marriages, and religious events. Wayang shadow puppetry was inscribed on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. (from Shadow, Strings & Other Things, 2019)

---

• Type of Item puppet
• Culture Javanese
• Material metal, water buffalo skin, water buffalo horn, paint, cotton fibre
• Measurements height 52.0 cm, width 22.5 cm, depth 1.0 cm (overall)

---

• Creator Pak Sagio
• Previous Owner Sutrisno Hartana
• Received from Sutrisno Hartana, Museum of Anthropology Exhibitions Budget

---

• Made in Yogyakarta

---

• Creation Date during 2008
• Ownership Date before January 28, 2019
• Acquisition Date on January 28, 2019

---

• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3340/0002