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Chinese kepeng coins were circulating
in Bali in the 7th and 8th centuries. They are sold in stringed bundles
of 200, about 12 cm across. Both sides are inscribed. One side has Chinese
characters.
The coins are used as offerings on special occasions
such as Balinese birthdays, which take place every 210 days, weddings,
burials and cremations. They are also used as decorations for temples
and shrines.
The oldest kepengs that have been found were cast
during the Tang dynasty: 618-907 AD.
Oleg Dancer
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, sandalwood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 53 cm, width 26 cm, depth 17.5 cm
Order Number: CS1
Background: This new style, which combines good wood carving, delicate
features and Chinese kepeng coins with a hole in the middle, is a good
example of continuing Balinese inventiveness.
There are a number of variations of styles, all on Balinese
themes, such as this graceful Balinese dancer. The Oleg dance is a
dance of bumble bees.
Rambut Sedana
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, sandalwood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 54 cm, width 14 cm, depth 14.5 cm
Order Number: CS2
Background: Rambut Sedana is the goddess of money, beloved by merchants.
Legong Dancer
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, sandalwood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 76 cm, width 44 cm, depth 34 cm
Order Number: CS3
Background: Legong is the most famous Balinese dance, brilliant and
perfect. Exquisitely beautiful, it is danced by two young girls, who
are usually not more than 13 or 14 years old. The dancers wear gold,
jewels and winged head-dresses.
Rama and Sita
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Left Rama:
Height 41 cm, width 11.5 cm, depth 10 cm
Order Number: CS4B
Right Sita:
Height 40.5 cm, width 11.5 cm, depth 9.5 cm
Order Number: CS4B
Background: Rama, the hero of the Indian Ramayana epic, and incarnation
of Wisnu, was married to the beautiful Sita. Their story has given rise
to many dances and plays.
Barong Landung
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 50 cm, width 22 cm, depth 13.5 cm
Order Number: CS5
Background: Barong Landung is the name given to 2 giant puppets, one
male, the other female.
This is the female, called Jero Luh. They parade
in the streets at Balinese New Year and the big festival of Galungan.
They have a special kind of singing and flirt with each other.
She has a white mask, overhanging forehead, slanting
eyes, enigmatic smile and protruding chin. She is broad-shouldered and
flat-chested and has big hands. Her hands are in a dance position, with
the middle finger bent.
She wears a hat and has the bearing of an English
maiden aunt.
Saraswati
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 63 cm, width 22 cm, depth 21 cm
Order Number: CS7
Background: Saraswati is the Balinese goddess of wisdom, education and
poetry.
Garuda
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 38 cm, width 23.5 cm, depth 21.5 cm
Order Number: CS8
Background: Garuda is a giant mythical bird. He stole the secret of
immortal life, ambrosia, from the gods, for his mother. But he did not
drink any himself. As a reward he was made Wisnu's vehicle and given
immortality. He has become the symbol of Indonesia.
Balinese Bride
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 50 cm, width 23 cm
Order Number: CS9
Balinese Bridegroom
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 50 cm, width 22 cm
Order Number: CS10
Flying Angel
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Length 36 cm, width 24 cm, height 10.5 cm
Order Number: CS11
Flying Baby
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Length 33 cm, width 22.5 cm, height 11 cm
Order Number: CS12
Kepeng Coin Basket
Material: Interweaved palm leaf
Style: Bali
Size: Length 34 cm, width 18 cm, height 55 cm
Order Number: CS13
Background: A large bundle of kepeng coins is usually carried in a basket
in a procession that takes place on New Year's Eve, when the village
gods are taken to the sea for a ritual bathing. A basket holds 1,000.
All metals have mystical power to the Balinese. The coins are made of
bronze.
Kepeng Coins
Material: Bronze
Style: Bali
Size: Lengthh 2.5 cm, width 1 mm; hole in the center is 5 mm across
and square
Order Number: CS14
Men Bryut
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 56 cm, width of base 16 cm, depth of base 11.25 cm
Order Number: CS16
Background: Men Bryut started out as a terrible mother, cannibalizing
her many children, until she discovered Buddhism, whereupon she started
to love her many babies. For the Balinese, she is a person to pray to
for fertlity. Apparently she has 100% success rate.
Dancer performing the Welcome
Dance
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 119 cm, width of base 20.5 cm, depth of base 20.5 cm
Order Number: CS17
Arjuna
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 82.5 cm, width of arms: 31 cm, width of base 31cm, depth
of base 15.5 cm
Order Number: CS18
Background: Arjuna is one of five princely Pandawa
brothers. He is a hero in battle, fearless but refined, attractive to
women, and capable of great asceticism.
Dancer performing the Bumblebee
Dance
Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali
Size: Height 76 cm, width of arms: 56 cm, width of base 16 cm, depth
of base 16 cm
Order Number: CS19
