AN INDONESIAN WAYANG KULIT SHADOW PUPPET OF GAJAH (ELEPHANT)
Java, Indonesia, South East Asia, late 19th - early 20th century

Opaque pigments heightened in gold on hide, designed in the shape of a large grey elephant with golden tusks and bulging red eyes, holding a trident or sceptre in its trunk, 42.5cm x 64cm at widest points.

In Indonesian shadow puppet theatre, this character usually represents Gajah, a whitish-grey elephant playing an important role in the story of
Rabine Duryudana (the marriage of King Duryudana). In the tale, the bride set a challenge to all her contenders saying that whoever could catch this elephant would be worthy to become her husband. King Duryudana was the only one who could catch and tame it, turning it into his main mount. In the story of Makutharama, this elephant’s name is Situbanda, and is described as one of Hanuman's friends. For further information on this character, please read the article on Indonesian Shadow Puppet Theatre by Joko Susilo, "Eisler Shadow-Puppet Collection Catalogue", 2004, Scholarship and Research. 1., http://scarab.bates.edu/music_research/1, p. 145, last accessed 16/06/2022.