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Monumental Balinese Temple Sculpture, Late 18th–Early 19th Century
$65,260.64
£48,720.20
€55,000
CA$90,666.73
A$97,525.04
CHF 52,120.21
MX$1,149,542.34
NOK 657,113.78
SEK 600,726.69
DKK 419,161.75
About the Item
This monumental Balinese temple sculpture represents a rare and early example of large-scale ritual carving, created for architectural and ceremonial use rather than for the art market. Carved from a single massive block of hardwood, the work demonstrates exceptional sculptural ambition, technical mastery, and material confidence, qualities rarely encountered outside pre-touristic Balinese temple contexts.
The composition is powerful and complex, uniting protective figures into a cohesive sculptural ensemble with an almost totemic presence. The expressive faces, layered carving, and deeply recessed details were conceived to be read from a distance, functioning as a symbolic and protective presence within a temple or sacred compound. This is not an autonomous decorative object, but a sculptural statement intended to command space, authority, and ritual meaning.
The original polychromy survives in authentic condition, displaying natural aging, pigment reduction, and surface wear consistent with prolonged ritual use. No later repainting or cosmetic restoration is evident. The remaining colors, patina, and structural traces are entirely original and contribute significantly to the historical integrity of the sculpture.
The underside reveals pronounced hand-tool marks, natural cracking, and age-related wood movement indicative of early manufacture and long-term natural aging. Based on carving technique, construction, surface patina, and these visible structural characteristics, the sculpture can be confidently attributed to the late 18th to early 19th century, consistent with pre-colonial Balinese temple production.
Sculptures of this scale, age, and quality have become increasingly scarce and are today most often encountered in institutional collections or long-established private holdings. As such, this work stands as a significant collector’s piece, bridging ritual function, architectural sculpture, and museum-level ethnographic art.
- Dimensions:Height: 24.02 in (61 cm)Width: 15.36 in (39 cm)Depth: 13 in (33 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1780-1850
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Original polychrome with visible age-related wear, pigment loss, and surface patina. Structurally sound. Wear consistent with age and original use.
- Seller Location:Antwerp, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU950448229372
About the Seller
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Antwerp, Belgium
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