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Antique Macassar
Ebony Statue of Hanuman and Naga (early
20th century) This tall and massive Indonesian Hanuman statue is carved from a single piece of rare Macassar ebony, including the dragon's fire breath. Its style and the wood's apparent age suggest an older piece. Macassar ebony (diospyros celebica) is a very dense hardwood with specific gravity 1.15 (sinks in water) and Janka hardness of 3250, harder than African black ebony. The piece has pleasingly long vibrant black and brown color bands typical of this ebony. The statue measures 82x38x20 cm and weights a full 20 kilograms (45 lbs). Macassar ebony comes mostly from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and has been traded from colonial times leaving larger old trees scarce. Single piece carvings of this size are relatively rare, possibly an indication of an earlier origin. The statue shows Hanuman fighting a Naga depicted as a three-headed dragon that gracefully wraps itself around Haunman's powerful body. Hanuman's right hand is raised with fingers and thumb closed as if holding a weapon ready to strike a blow.  Detail
Detail and workmanship are shown in the enlarged image below. Hanuman's body is covered with intricate zig-zag carving imitating fine strands of hair that feel remarkably like fur to the touch. The dragon is covered with smooth scales without visible carving marks. The statue's artistic expression, flow, and balance are exceptional. Its superior style and carving may again indicate an earlier origin. The wood is in its natural state without apparent treatment. Its surface appearance comes from the wood's hardness and natural oils.
Hanuman Sanskrit:
हनुमान्
is a Hindu Deity who was an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian
epic Ramayana. Hanuman
was a general among the Vanaras, an ape-like race of
forest-dwellers, whose fate was to aid the hero Rama in the
great struggle against the demon king Ravana. His exploits
are celebrated in many religious and cultural traditions particularly
Hinduism.
Macassar ebony: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diospyros_celebica |
