Majapahit 14th Cent. Terracotta Heads

Description

Two delightful and unusual Antique Majapahit Terracotta Heads. To the left is a female style of head and to right a hatted chubby faced head which is quite an unusual find.

Region: Trowulan   East Java   Indonesia

Period: 13th – 15th Century

Height including stand: 9cm / 3.5 inches

Tallest Head Height: 6cm / 2.5 inches

Stand Width: 11 cm / 4.25 inches

These two ancient terracotta heads are unique and to be enjoyed as a nice historical piece of ancient Indonesian history. Their antiquity will make an excellent and interesting gift, ideal for desk or shelf display.

The Majapahit Empire of Eastern Java flourished during the 13th-16th centuries. It was a powerful and wealthy maritime Empire that controlled most of the trade routes through the Strait of Malacca and the Java Sea.

Terracotta pottery was an important craft during the Majapahit era. Many female heads show Javanese features with infinite facial expressions, with hairstyles and ear ornamentation representing ladies belonging to the upper classes.

Many figurines have been found decapitated, suggesting their use as effigies or religious offerings to the gods for bountiful harvests. It is also thought that they were secular play objects, cast aside once broken. Complete figurines are rare compared to the many headless figures or heads without bodies.

Many Majapahit terracotta artefacts are from Trowulan, East Java. Majapahit terracotta artefacts of my collection are mainly incidental finds by farmers agricultural activities – or unearthed by diggers who dig pits panning the alluvial soil for gold. As most terracotta heads and artefacts found are small, so to compliment them I’ve mounted them onto wood stands.

A pair of ancient terracotta heads in very good condition. The hatted character has a missing ear. Please view all of the photos…