Rare Macassar Ebony Hanuman Naga Statue

$2,000.00

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Antique Macassar Ebony Statue of Hanuman and Naga (early 20th century)

Material and Origin

This massive 82 cm tall Indonesian sculpture weighs an impressive 20 kilograms (45 lbs). Craftsmen carved it from a single block of rare Macassar ebony (Diospyros celebica). Its exceptional craftsmanship and evident age suggest an origin earlier than the mid-20th century. In addition, it predates the mass-produced pieces made for the tourist market.

Macassar ebony is native to Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island. It is renowned for its striking black and brown bands. Furthermore, it has extreme density (specific gravity 1.15, denser than water) and remarkable hardness. Its Janka hardness of 3250 exceeds African black ebony. People have harvested and traded this precious hardwood since colonial times. As a result, large old-growth trees have become increasingly scarce. Consequently, the rarity of substantial single-block carvings further underscores the significance of this piece.

The Subject and Carving

The statue captures a dynamic scene of the monkey god Hanuman battling a three-headed Naga. Artists depict the Naga as an elegant dragon. The Naga coils sinuously around Hanuman’s powerful form. Moreover, its smooth, meticulously carved scales exhibit no visible tool marks. Hanuman’s raised right hand has fingers closed as if gripping an unseen weapon. This conveys a sense of impending action. The carving expresses the dragon’s fire breath. Craftsmen rendered it with extraordinary precision from the same continuous block of ebony.

Surface Detail and Quality

The fine artistry of the piece is evident in every detail. Artisans adorned Hanuman’s body with delicate zig-zag incisions simulating strands of hair. These feel soft to the touch. They also catch the light in a way that adds texture and depth. Finally, the statue’s fluid composition and exceptional balance elevate it beyond craftsmanship to a fine work of art.

Because Macassar ebony carvings of this size and quality are rare, this statue stands as a testament to Indonesia’s rich artistic heritage. It also reflects the allure of Asia’s mythological traditions.

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Description
Additional information

Antique Macassar Ebony Statue of Hanuman and Naga (early 20th century)

This massive 82 cm tall Indonesian sculpture weighing 20 kilograms (45 lbs) is carved from a single block of rare Macassar ebony (Diospyros celebica). Its exceptional craftsmanship and appearant age suggest an origin earlier than the mid-20th century, predating mass-produced pieces for the tourist market.

Macassar ebony, native to Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island, is renowned for its striking black and brown bands, and extreme density, specific gravity 1.15), denser than water. Its remarkable hardness measuring 3250 on the Janka scale exceeds African black ebony. This precious hardwood has been harvested and traded since colonial times, rendering large old-growth trees increasingly scarce. The rarity of substantial single-block carvings further underscores the significance of this piece.

The statue captures a dynamic scene of the monkey god Hanuman battling a three-headed Naga, depicted as an elegant dragon. The Naga coils sinuously around Hanuman’s powerful form, its smooth, meticulously carved scales show no visible tool marks. Hanuman’s raised right hand, fingers closed as if gripping an unseen weapon, conveys a sense of impending action. The carving expresses the dragon’s fire breath rendered with precision from the same continuous block of ebony.

The fine artistry of the piece is evident in every detail. Hanuman’s body is adorned with delicate zig-zag incisions simulating strands of hair, which feel soft to the touch and catch the light in a way that adds texture and depth. The statue’s fluid composition and exceptional balance elevate it beyond craftsmanship to a fine work of art.

As Macassar ebony carvings of this size and quality are rare, this statue stands as a testament to Indonesia’s rich artistic heritage and the allure of Asia’s mythological traditions.