Title
Mask of Prince Panji
Year/Period
Early 20th century
Region
Java, Indonesia
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 16.5 x 13 x 9 cm
Accession No.
XXXX-10923
Collection of
This white ‘topeng’ (mask) represents Prince Panji, whose character reflects the ideal of the ‘halus’ (refined) hero. He is featured prominently in the ‘gedhog’ stories of east Java that form the core of the topeng repertoire. He is the counterpart of Arjuna, the princely hero figure in the Hindu epic the ‘Mahabharata’. ‘Wayang topeng’ (masked dance) is one of the oldest of the Indonesian performing arts, dating back to the early 16th century. It is said to have been introduced by one of the nine ‘wali sanga’ (Islamic saints) along the north coast of Java, where wayang topeng retains a strong presence.
