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Overview An extraordinary mid-century Balinese hand-carved hardwood sculpture depicting a gamelan musician seated alongside a suspended ceremonial gong (gong agung). The elaborate openwork gong frame is surmounted by a fierce, carved Boma (or Bhoma) guardian mask, complete with bulging eyes, protective fangs, and a flaming crown. Sculpted from a single block of dense hardwood with a warm amber-reddish finish, this 7.8-inch sculpture serves as a dramatic, highly detailed focal point for bookshelves, desk displays, or art cabinets in Balinese, Art Deco, Wabi-Sabi, or Eclectic interior settings. Cultural & Artistic Background In Balinese temple architecture and sacred music traditions, the Boma mask represents an earth-born forest deity and guardian who wards off evil spirits and purifies sacred spaces. Positioned atop the arched stand of the gong agung—the resonant bass instrument that marks the musical cycles in a traditional Gamelan performance—the mask protects the music and musicians. Influenced by the mid-20th-century Art Deco movement centered around Bali's carving enclaves like Mas and Ubud, the sculptor masterfully contrasts the serene, disciplined pose of the seated musician with the fierce, protective energy of the Boma mask. Condition & Surface Character • Excellent structural integrity throughout, carved with impressive openwork detailing around the suspended central gong. • Warm mahogany-reddish finish with a hand-rubbed satin luster highlighting the fine hardwood grain. • Retains a vintage paper inventory label remnant on the underside of the base. • Intricate relief carving across the Boma mask, flaming aura, fish/scrollwork base, and musician's headcloth (udeng). • Free of structural cracks, splits, or repairs, exhibiting only minor age-appropriate surface dust in deep recesses. Dimensions & Weight • Height: 7.8 inches • Width: 3.8 inches • Depth: 2.5 inches
