skuggspelsdocka, wayangfigur, wayang kulit

Shadow game doll of untanned leather, from cow or water buffalo. The doll is loosely attached to a narrow, red rod. The doll has no moving parts. The doll imagines a head. According to the catalogue general, the head of the demon Kala Raus (Kala Rawu/Kala Rauh/Kala Rahu) is gestaltas. Kala Rau stole the elite of immortality from the gods. The sun and the moon saw what he was doing and warned the god Wisnu. Wisnu immediately heaped him his head. Kala Rau’s body fell apart, but his head was immortal, thanks to his being about to swallow a mouth of the elixure. Kala Rau therefore chases the Sun and Moon across the sky and swallows them from time to time, creating eclipses of the sun and moon. Body and features: The eyes are round (bale: dedelingan) and the teeth large and sharp. Animals, giants and demons have this kind of eyes and teeth symbolizing ritual impurity. Colors: The face is painted brown black. The body colour is an expression of the character of the figure and the combined colours thus combine the characteristics of the base colours. source: Eisenman, Fred B. Jr. 1992 (NS)