Balinese Fine Art Wood Carving Collection
Balinese Wood Carving of Sita’s Fire Test (60x22cm/24x8.5 inches)
A wonderful Balinese wood carving of Sita, wife of Rama, proving her fidelity by the test of fire after being rescued from her abductor the evil king Rawana (Ramayana Epic). Sita is portrayed unharmed with the flames lapping around her, while the lower half of the carving depicts the much-loved mythical protector Bhoma, Lord of the Forest and son of Pertiwi the goddess of the earth, and Wisnu the Preserver, whose element is water. This free-standing sculpture has been carved with great skill and sensitivity from a beautifully-grained and naturally hollowed piece of waru wood. It was a acquired in Bali in the early 90s but is believed to have been carved in the 70s. There is a small (very old) split and a virtually invisible repair to the flames top left, but otherwise this very special carving is in perfect original condition.
Sold
Balinese Root Carving of Rawana and Jatayu
(50hx75x52cm/20x29x21.5 inches)
This remarkable root carving depicts a scene from the Hindu Ramayana epic - the fateful battle between the evil Rawana, demon king of Lanka, and the valiant vulture Jatayu. Rawana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita when Jatayu tries to rescue her. Unhappily Rawana gets the better of him.
The subject was cleverly composed around the natural form of an old satin wood tree root in the late 80s by Balinese artist Wayan Balik from whom it was purchased in 1990. It took him months to carve and he considered it his best work to date. The wood has developed a few cracks over the years, as one might expect for a root carving of this size, but this does not detract from the beauty of the carving which has now mellowed to a lovely golden yellow. It would look spectacular suspended from a wire at face height.
PRICE: £495.00 (US$743)
Balinese Brahmin Priest and Assistant Officiating at a Ceremony (28x28cm/11x11 inches)
This exceptionally fine Balinese wood carving was commissioned from a master carver in the 1930s or 40s by a wealthy Chinese Balinese collector, and was displayed in his own private museum and gallery until the late 1980s when a change of circumstances forced its sale. It is a unique one-of-kind carving of the finest quality. It depicts a Balinese Brahmin Priest and his female assistant officiating at a temple ceremony. The Priest sits cross-legged behind an offering table while ringing a sacred bell and reciting a prayer. His female assistant, her hair adorned with frangipani flowers, kneels beside him and prepares to pour holy water from a ceret. Both figures have wonderfully graceful bodies and the most beautiful and refined faces.
This is Balinese artistry and craftsmanship of the very highest kind...an altogether exceptional piece worthy of any museum collection. It was carved from a single piece of satin wood and polished with beeswax, and over the years has turned a lovely golden brown. It is in excellent condition.
This is one of two stunning pieces by the same carver that have been in our private collection for almost 25 years (see below).
PRICE: £875.00 (US$1,444)
Balinese Girls Preparing a Fruit Offering for a Temple Ceremony (33x30cm/13x12 inches)
This exceptionally fine Balinese wood carving was commissioned from a master carver in the 1930s or 40s by a wealthy Chinese Balinese collector, and was displayed in his own private museum and gallery until the late 1980s when a change of circumstances forced its sale. It is a unique one-of-kind carving of the finest quality. It depicts two young Balinese women in traditional costume, with frangipani flowers in their hair, preparing a fruit offering for a temple ceremony. Both figures are kneeling, with all four hands supporting the tower of fruit, their slender bodies virtually mirroring each other. The carver has managed to convey the sense of physical grace and spiritual refinement that so typifies Balinese women.
This is Balinese artistry and craftsmanship of the very highest kind...an altogether exceptional piece worthy of any museum collection. It was carved from a single piece of satin wood and polished with beeswax, and over the years has turned a lovely golden brown. It is in excellent condition.
This is one of two stunning pieces by the same carver that have been in our private collection for almost 25 years. (see above).
PRICE: £875.00 (US$1,444)
Thoughtfully Resting Girl (30x30x6cm/12x12x2.5 inches)
This is a cleverly composed and sensitively carved figure of a Balinese girl thoughtfully resting with one hand on her forehead and the other at her breast. She sits with one leg tucked beneath her, while the other is raised. Her upper body is bare and she wears a sarong on her lower half.
The figure has a wonderful profile when viewed from either side. It was carved in the 1990s, in mahogany wood, in the slightly elongated Balinese style. Carved from a square block of wood the superb composition maximizes every inch of space, and is a testament to the remarkable skill of the carver.
The Goddess Winata (Dewi Gadru Myth) – Bali (38cm/15 inches)
A fine Balinese carving of the goddess Winata or Dewi Gadru holding two eggs. Carved in satin wood in the elongated style, this kneeling figure carving was commissioned from a master carver in the 1940s or early 50s by a wealthy Chinese-Balinese art collector, and was displayed in his own private museum and gallery until the late 1980s when a change in circumstances forced its sale. It is a unique one-of-kind carving of the finest quality. In perfect condition apart from a small area of light splash (bird) staining on the lower back which does not detract from the overall beauty of the carving.
The goddess Winata and her sister, Gadru, were unable to bear children, so they solicited the help of a high priest who granted Gadru 1,000 eggs, while giving Winata only two. When the eggs hatched, Gadru's were born as serpents, while Winata's were mythical birds, one of which was born weak and thin. The stronger bird was named Garuda, and he later became the vehicle for the God Whisnu. The weaker one, Aruna, feasted upon the snakes until only two were left, which eventually grew up to become the great nagas of the underworld Antaboga and Basuki, who are the guardian of the Turtle Nawasanga.
Sold
Semara and Ratih the God and Goddess of Love – Bali (52x38x9cm/20.5x15x3.5 inches)
This exquisite carving of lovers Dewa Semara and his wife Dewi Ratih was purchased from the artist Wayan Wencen from Mas (the famous carving village) in Bali in 1991. It was carved in the late 1980s when he was already an old man and beginning to lose his sight, and it was one of his favourite pieces. Wayan Wencen is widely recognized as a Master Carver and his work is represented in several major Balinese galleries and museums.
In this carving the two figures are stylized and slightly elongated, with gentle serene faces and long flowing hair. They wear nothing but traditional Balinese male (leaf) and female (plug) earrings. The lovers sit facing each other, their foreheads and genitals touching, and in their hands each holds an egg, symbolic of fertility and procreation.
The carving has great symmetry and a wonderful silhouette. It is carved in suar wood (rain tree), a very hard wood with a lovely grain and a deep golden brown colour. This particular carving has different natural colouring on each side...lighter and two-toned on one side (left) and a more even darker brown on the other. Underneath it is inscribed Wayan Wencen, Mas - Bali.
Bird Woman Rising from the Sea (58cm/23 inches)
Neither pictures nor words can do justice to this wonderful satin wood carving of a bird woman rising from the sea by Balinese master carver Ketut Modern. It was purchased directly from the artist at his home in 1988 while on our first or second trip to Bali. Unfortunately our limited Indonesian made communication extremely difficult, and we were unable to discuss the subject matter with him. It could depict a scene from a Balinese myth, or possibly represent a siren or the Asian soul-bird (a winged ghost)...we simply do not know. However, it is one of our favourite pieces and is not for sale.
Not for Sale
Balinese Dancer
A lovely carving of a beautiful young Balinese woman, a dancer. It is carved in the slightly elongated and rhythmic style that was popular in the 1940s and 50s, and it accentuates her slender figure perfectly. She sits gracefully in the traditional figure-hugging costume of a dancer, with one hand on her hip and the other pressed against her long flowing tresses at the back of her head. Her hair is decorated with a tiara of flowers and around her neck is an ornamented collar. There are bangles on her wrists and ankles.
This carving was commissioned from a master carver in the 1950s by a wealthy Balinese art collector, and was displayed in his own private museum and gallery until the late 1980s. It is an exceptionally fine carving, an example of Balinese artistry and craftsmanship of the highest order. It is carved in fine-grained hardwood and is in excellent condition (41cm/16 inches).
PRICE: £400.00 (US$660)
Playful Plump or Pregnant Balinese Nude
This expressive carving of a playful plump or pregnant sitting woman is sure to make you smile. She rests her head on her right shoulder and, with a smile and an expression of contentment, squeezes her left nipple between a finger and thumb. It was carved in the 1970s by Wayan Dania of Mas and purchased from the artist’s family home in Bali in the early 1990s. Danta is a highly regarded member of a family of Master Carvers noted for their original, distinctive and humorous wood carvings of ordinary people, and their work has become highly collectable.
This charming figure is carved in jackwood, a strong durable wood that begins life a lemon yellow colour but darkens to a light brown with age. The carving has a barely noticeable old and stable surface crack between her ear and thumb, and is otherwise perfect. It is signed Wyn Dania on the bottom (23cm/9 inches).
PRICE £250.00 (US$412)
Balinese Cuddling Couple (24x13cm/9.5x5 inches)
A tender carving of a plump couple hugging or cuddling – an unusual subject, in a style that became popular after the slender and elongated sculptures of the 1930s and 40s. It was carved by Mardika of Mas, a member of a family of Master Carvers noted for their original, distinctive and humorous wood carvings of ordinary people (see above). This carving was originally purchased in the 1960s by a wealthy Balinese art collector, and was displayed in his own private museum and gallery until the late 1980s.
It is carved in jackwood, a strong durable wood that begins life a lemon yellow colour but darkens to a light brown with age. It is signed on the bottom ‘Purna son Mardika, Mas – Ubud’.
PRICE £250.00 (US$412)
Blissful Woman
A wonderfully sensual and tactile carving of a voluptuous woman blissfully relaxing. Carved in jackwood by Wayan Purna in a stylistically flattened form it is intended to be viewed mainly from above. Surprisingly, the carving continues on the underside too...something one would only discover by lifting the carving and turning it over! Purna is a highly regarded Balinese Master Carver whose work , together with that of his son Danta and other family members, is now widely collected.
This carving was commissioned in the 1950s or 60s by a wealthy Balinese art collector, and was displayed in his own private museum and gallery until the late 1980s. It is carved in jackwood, a strong durable wood that begins life a lemon yellow colour but darkens to a golden brown with age. It is signed on the bottom ‘Wyn Purna & son Wyn Danta, Mas – Ubud’ (39x31x9cm/15x12x3.5 inches).
Not for Sale
Balinese Back-strap Weaver
(30x30x24cm/12x12x9.5 inches)
It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful figurative carving of a young woman at work. The artistry and craftsmanship of this piece is simply astonishing. The carving of the kneeling figure, her composure, face, torso and limbs, hands and feet, are simply breathtaking. And the loom is so accurate in its detail it would be possible for the real thing to be constructed, and for a complete novice to work out the technicalities of the loom weaving process.
This was one of the first carvings we bought in Bali, in 1988 or 1989. It was on display in a glass case in a private museum of Balinese art. We became friends with the owners and were only able to persuade them to part with it because they had another almost identical piece by the same carver. In fact they had several...the same woman weaving, but all different. One had a pet dog beside her. None were for sale.
It transpired that the elderly owners, a wealthy Balinese couple of Chinese descent, were in the habit of commissioning works from established Balinese artists in the 1940, 50s and 60s for their personal enjoyment....and if they liked a particular subject they would request a second or third carving. In the late 1980s when we purchased the weaver they could no-longer recall the name of the artist, but they were certain his muse was his own beautiful young wife weaving at home on her back-strap loom. Years later, in the early 2000s the museum took a more commercial turn and we were able to acquire the weaver with the dog for a client in the USA. A few years later we learned that the last remaining weaver had also been sold to a collector.
Not for Sale 
Seated Ganesh (35x30x15cm/14x12x6 inches)
A superb Balinese carving of the Elephant-headed Hindu Deity Ganesh. Beautifully carved in mahogany and with lots of fine detail. This splendid carving is undamaged and looks great from any angle, but has some faint water mottling on the back which appears to be in the surface polish, and could probably be removed (Circa 1990s).
PRICE: £425.00 (US$701)
Balinese Female Nude
(61x32cm/24x12.5 inches, including base)
An exceptionally fine carving of a young nude Balinese woman kneeling and tending her hair. There is a quietness and modesty about this carving that belies her nakedness...as though she were captured in a private moment. She has a curvaceous well-proportioned body, a lovely face and beautifully carved hair piled high on her head. Carved in suar hardwood in the 1970s this carving was purchased from a private Balinese collection.
PRICE: £950.00
Fertility Goddess – Bali (24cm/9.5 inches)
A fertility goddess carved in a distinctive Balinese style that brings a smile to the face. She has a nice sun-like face, earrings and long hair, and wears a sarong, and is best displayed in a low position and viewed from above. Carved in the mid 1990s in waru wood (grey hibiscus) with subtle variations in grain and colour.
PRICE: £195.00 (US$322)
The Rice and Fertility Goddess Dewi Sri
(117x10x19cm/42x4x7.5 inches)
A superb carving of the Fertility and Rice Goddess Dewi Sri holding a sheaf of rice between her hands. This is a wonderfully elegant and serene carving. Her slender form is full of rhythm and movement arising from her body posture, long tresses, and the drapes of her costume. Carved from a length of satin wood root in the elongated style in the 1970s, this highly original piece was purchased from a private collection of Balinese art in 1988.
Dewi Sri is still widely worshipped in Java and Bali where she is believed to have dominion over the underworld and the moon, and encompasses the whole spectrum of Mother Goddess...birth and sustenance.
PRICE: £400.00 (US$660)
Reclining Ganesh (44cm/17 inches)
A beautiful mahogany wood carving of a relaxed and reclining Ganesh, the Hindu elephant-headed deity. Carved in the 1980s and purchased in 1990 from an art gallery collection in Tegas, Bali.
Sold
Young Balinese Woman at Prayer (23x12cm/9x5 inches)
An absolutely beautiful little carving of a young Balinese woman kneeling in prayer in a manner commonly observed at any Bali ceremony or temple festival. This is a popular subject for Balinese artists but rarely do they convey the sense of simplicity, grace and spirituality found in this carving. Furthermore, it is carved from a fantastic piece of two-toned sono wood (the heartwood is almost black) which adds enormously to the beauty of the figure. This carving has faced and knelt before our own house shrine for many years, and the relatively high price reflects our personal attachment.
PRICE: £380.00 (US$627)
Nude Woman Pleasuring Herself (40x20cm/16x8 inches)
An interesting and expressive carving of a seated nude Balinese woman with one hand on her breast and the other on her genitals. Her full breasts and slightly distended belly, coupled with the squatting position, suggests she may be preparing to give birth...but more likely this is a sensual image of a curvaceous young woman simply pleasuring herself. Whatever the interpretation, it’s a very fine carving of a private moment...quietly sensual, mildly erotic, but never crude. The skyward tilt of her head is particularly nice, and unusual, and makes the sculpture best views from slightly above. Superbly carved in local suar wood, with a good grain and a polished finish, it was carved in the 1970s or 80s, and is in excellent condition.
PRICE: £320.00 (US$528)
Lord Ganesh Relief Carving (32x18cm/12.5x7.5 inches)
A rather nice half-round relief carving of the Hindu elephant-headed deity Lord Ganesh in naturally two-toned waru wood, a brown/grey hibiscus. The centrally-placed subject is carved in the darker heartwood, and cleverly contrasted by the lighter surrounding sapwood. The carving is in excellent condition and is intended to be viewed from the front and sides, with its back to the wall (it would look great in an alcove). The back of the carving is flat apart from an engraved lotus flower ornamentation, and it has a couple of old (stable) cracks which in no way reach or affect the carved areas.
A very nice Balinese relief carving of a popular subject. Ganesh is worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, and a remover of obstacles.
PRICE: £245.00 (US$404)
Balinese Leyak Carving (36x24cm/14x9.5 inches)
A fascinating representation of a Balinese Leyak (spook/ghost/witch) referencing the Kala Rahu myth in which the demon swallows the sun and moon and causes the eclipses (see below). This is a free-standing sculpture carved in suar (rain tree) wood by the highly-regarded Balinese artist Wayan Asin, who for years has specialized in carving leyaks, spooks and other shamanic subjects. It is carved from part of a hollowed-out tree trunk and looks wonderful lit from behind. The carving is in perfect condition save for a short barely noticeable (stable) hairs-breadth split between the first and second curl from the left.
When the demon Kala Rahu stole the elixir of immortality from the gods, the sun and the moon saw him. They told Vishnu and he sent a lightning bolt to cut off Kala Rahu's head. However, he already had the elixir in his mouth so his head became immortal and his body died. In revenge the demon’s head chases the sun and the moon around the sky and occasionally catches and swallows them causing the eclipses, and as they pass through the opening at the neck the eclipse ends. The Balinese bang pots and pans during a solar eclipse to frighten Kala Rahu.
PRICE: £300.00 (US$495)
Balinese 2-Face Leyak Carving (44x23cm/14x9.5 inches)
A free-standing two-face carving of a Balinese Leyak (spook/ghost/witch) referencing the many-headed mythological water serpent Hydra that grew two heads for each that was cut off. It was carved in suar (rain tree) wood by the highly-regarded Balinese artist Wayan Asin, who for years has specialized in carving leyaks, spooks and other shamanic subjects. It is carved from part of a hollowed-out tree trunk and looks wonderful lit from behind. The carving is in perfect condition save for a barely noticeable small but stable crack between the lower face and left supporting curl.
PRICE: £225.00 (US$370)
Balinese 3-Face Leyak Carving (48x23cm/19x9.5 inches)
A free-standing three-face carving of a Balinese Leyak (spook/ghost/witch) referencing the many-headed mythological water serpent Hydra that grew two heads for each that was cut off. It was carved in suar (rain tree) wood by the highly-regarded Balinese artist Wayan Asin, who for years has specialized in carving leyaks, spooks and other shamanic subjects. It is carved from part of a hollowed-out tree trunk and looks wonderful lit from behind. The carving is in perfect condition.
PRICE: £300.00 (US$495)
Group of 3 Balinese Layak Carvings
(36x24cm/44x23cm/48x23cm)
A collection of 3 free-standing leyak (spook/ghost/witch) carvings in suar (rain tree) wood by the Balinese artist Wayan Asin (see individual carvings for more information about these carvings). They look wonderful lit from behind! Buy all 3 and SAVE £125.00 (15%).
PRICE: £700.00 (US$370)
Nursing Mother and Children
(25x9cm/10x3.5 inches)
An utterly charming and tender little carving of a mother with her two children, one suckling at her breast and the other asleep on her lap. Beautifully carved in satinwood in the traditional Balinese elongated style. The carving is signed on the underside.
PRICE: £275.00 (US$454) SOLD
Meditating Buddha (44x33cm/17x13 inches)
A carving of Buddha seated in the lotus position, with his right hand raised in the Vitaka gesture associated with discussion and the transmission of Buddhist teachings. Carved in suar (rain tree) wood and lightly stained and polished to bring out the grain. The faces are so important in Buddha carvings, and this one is particularly nice...joyful and serene.
SOLD
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SHIPPING & DELIVERY
All items are automatically charged for shipping and insurance at a flat rate of £5.00 (about $8) on checkout. This is generally sufficient for small and light items shipped to UK and European destinations, and we happily cover the cost of any shortfall ourselves. Small and light items may also be shipped to non-european destinations at no extra cost. Orders are usually dispatched with 24 hours.
Bulky or heavy items will be subject to additional shipping charges and insurance, and customers will later be invoiced separately for any shortfall once the actual cost is known (usually after posting). Shipping is always charged AT COST and in most cases it is reasonable and proportional to the value of the item. We will always combine multiple purchases and ship together to reduce costs.
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