Art of Indonesia - Tapa dura

This is a collection of essays and illustrations that presents a selection of art treasures from Indonesia's prehistoric, classic, Islamic and colonial periods. The objets d'art featured include the most important elements of the collection of the National Museum of Indonesia. The artefacts have special significance as venerated objects which are handed down from generation to generation, and are known by the Indonesian word "pusaka". Among the people of central Java, "pusaka" are invested with the power to protect, heal, avenge and even to confer the right to rule. The works of art depicted include Neolithic chalcedony bangles and ceremonial adzes, ritual objects of magical power from the Outer Islands, Javanese "gamelan" instruments, bronze cannon from Sumatra and magnificent "keris". In addition, the book also includes several masterpieces of representational art produced by the Hindhu-Buddhist civilizations of Sinhasiri, Kadiri and Majapahit. The seven essays explore the arts and customs of traditional Indonesian societies, with the intention of throwing light on the objects themselves.