Black paper shadow puppet: figure with tall headdress holding a sword, standing on a dragon or a snake. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 11/3/2005]

Collection type: Object
Description: Black paper shadow puppet: figure with tall headdress holding a sword, standing on a dragon or a snake. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 11/3/2005]
Geographical reference: Malaysia
Asia > South-eastern Asia > Malaysia; Kelantan
Person: Field collector Alwyn Sidney Haynes; PRM source Alwyn Sidney Haynes
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1947
Date collected: By 1947
Acquisition information: Donated: 1947
Materials and processes: Material Paper Plant
Dimensions: Length: max 152 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1947.10.14.23
Research and responses: Related Documents File - Letter from Haynes, dated 14 August 1947: 'I have a number of small figures, beautifully cut out in black, of the so-called "Wayang Kulit" or Malay Shadow Play.' There is another letter from the donor, dated 20 August 1947, 'I handed things yesterday to Pickfords to pack and deliver to you, when they have a van going to Oxford. Have added a very fine set of beautifually coloured figures of Malay (Javanese) shadow play. ...'
There is also a typed list included: 'Wayang - Kulit, Kelantan, These Puppets are of Siamese Origin. The names of many are used in the Javaness [sic] Wayang-Kulit and the design differ[s] slightly, in the less important figures. ... [written by] Lilian Stanhope Williams, Kota Bharu.'
There is also a faxed letter from S. Kingham, a researcher at Pusat Seni Arts Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, dated 19 April 1997, asking for information regarding shadow-play figures from Kelantan, but attributing them to Raymond Firth. A response from Jeremy Coote, dated 5 May 1997, confirms this is the collection of figures, but pointing out they were not collected by Firth. [MOB 29/1/2002]

Search terms: Theatre and Drama, Figure, Religion, Shadow Puppet, Animal Figure

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