Singa Bersayap 3This is a traditional Balinese singa. The singa's role in Balinese spiritual life is as an opponent of evil and protector of the good. From central Bali the area around Klungkung. You can read more about the singa on my Musings. It is quite old, 50 plus years. The body is painted dark red, the floral decoration on its wings is green. it would have had gold decorations around the mouth and on the wings, but this was gold paint not gold leaf and the

Wood is difficult to age but there is no doubt that this is over 100 years old

A fine old Javanese keris handle

The bicone beads are porous coral

and they make love

a king in Hindu epic Mahabharata performed in the Javanese 'wayang kulit' or leather shadow puppet theatre tradition

Mosaic beads with amber beads

In the Javanese telling

some antqueBalinese silver beads and several old red beads from Tibet

The bell still rings with a pure tone that resonates for 4 seconds

In the middle are two silver buttons from the Bugis in Sulawesi (mid 20th cent)

dense wood

made last century