Posted 13 years ago
Budek
(314 items)
Wonderful old figure made of coins connected in a network of knots.
Asian face, some other material forming what look like wings, a small carved cone on the front rising from a scalloped bib,( also carved )
Very cool indeed!
I don't know where it was made, or the age of it, but my guess is that it's a very old piece.
I hope that someone else finds it interesting.
take care,
T
Hi Budek!
I saw the image and I saw Bali!
I look at the face on the"coin doll" and I thought Bali!
It looks like a male image.
The wooden "wings" say Bali too!
http://www.murnis.com/onlineshop/coinstatues/index.htm
"Chinese kepeng coins were circulating in Bali in the 7th and 8th centuries. They are sold in stringed bundles of 200, about 12 cm across. Both sides are inscribed. One side has Chinese characters.
The coins are used as offerings on special occasions such as Balinese birthdays, which take place every 210 days, weddings, burials and cremations. They are also used as decorations for temples and shrines. The oldest kepengs that have been found were cast during the Tang dynasty: 618-907 AD."
There's a Worthpoint description: "Balinese Prayer Coin Statue of Batara Sedana, The God of Wealth - made from a couple of hundred ancient Chinese kepengs. Base, face, hands are made from carved sandalwood. Statue stands 15" tall and weighs 3lbs.
The kepeng, as a monetary symbol is sometimes used in the making of a coin statue of Batara Sedana, the god of wealth and the husband of Sri, the goddess of agriculture. These two gods have a shrine addressed to them in every Balinese family temple and home. Families keep the statue of Sedana as a token of wealth, as the word Sedana originates from dana, meaning wealth.
The traditional form of Balinese money is the kepeng, also called pis bolong. The word pis must be a shortened version of rupies, the legal tender of Indianized countries for centuries, while bolong, meaning hollow, denotes its peculiar shape, which is round and flat with a hole in the center. The kepeng is of Chinese origin, though, as apparent from the characters that show on the face of the coin."
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/balinese-bali-god-of-wealth-statue-ancient-kepeng
Notice the hook for offerings at his feet!
I'll have a punt and say it is an image of Betara Sedana!
This is absolutely fabulous and does seem to scream old Bali, it is phenomenal, and considering your description, it appears to be very much what you said, a Betara Sedana. I have several newer bali pieces, but this is unlike anything I've ever seen. I would also take a punt that it is VERY old...but I may not be the best punter anymore!!! Thank you for posting this unique and rare treasure!, Mich