Figure of Dewi Sri
Object No. 2002/55/3
The 'cili' goddess or Dewi Sri is typically represented in an hourglass shape such as this example. Such figures are placed in Balinese fields to protect and promote fertility of wet rice agriculture, and illustrate the importance of rice production in Southeast Asia where it is the staple diet. Figures like this one made from fragile palm leaf are not intended to last.
Loading...
Summary
Object Statement
Figure, Dewi Sri (cili), rice goddess, palm leaf / paper, maker unknown, Bali, Indonesia, 1970-1975
Physical Description
Figure of Dewi Sri, (cili), rice goddess, palm leaf / paper, maker unknown, Bali, Indonesia, 1970-1975. Small hourglass-shaped figure plaited from strips of palm leaf with additional cut paper ornament. The slender body has wide triangular shoulders from which hang plaited arms, and bells out from the waist to form a square skirt. The face is an inverted triangle, with simple facial features burnt into the surface and an elaborate headdress of cut palm leaf. Coloured palm leaf and paper in green, yellow, purple and blue provide added ornament in the headdress, earrings, bodice and a purple cut-paper sash crosses the body.
DIMENSIONS
Height
320 mm
Width
135 mm
Depth
70 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The figure has been formed in an hourglass shape with the triangular face and wide shoulders traditionally used for representations of Dewi Sri, the goddess of the rice. The figure has been formed by plaiting narrow strips of natural palm leaf. While the skirt is of plain diagonal plaiting, the slender body and upper skirt are formed by decorative looping in rounds. Additional ornament comes from cut and coloured palm leaf and paper. The figure was made in Bali, Indonesia. This figure was made 1972-1973.
HISTORY
Notes
These tiny figures were placed in the fields in Bali as protection for the rice crop and to ensure its abundance. The figure was bought in Jakarta by Gwendoline Beryl John on 18 September 1973 to use in audio-visuals for Educational Media Australia.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Gwendoline John, 2002
Acquisition Date
16 May 2002
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
Image Licensing Enquiry
Object Enquiry