Lintel

anonymous, c. 800 - c. 900

This monster – who is traditionally identifed with the demon Kala – protected the entrances to Hindu and Buddhist temples against evil spirits. The stone was once placed above the entrance to one of the 240 small temples around the large Buddhist temple complex of Candi Sewu. The monstrous head is flanked and venerated by a religious seer on each side.

  • Artwork typesculpture, kalakop
  • Object numberAK-MAK-246
  • Dimensionswidth 160 cm x height 40 cm x depth 76 cm x weight 572 kg
  • Physical characteristicsvolcanic stone (andesite)

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Lintel with a Kala Face
    • Lintel

  • Object type

  • Object number

    AK-MAK-246

  • Description

    Kalakop met hemelingen, bovendorpel der portiek van een der bijtempeltjes van Candi Sewu.

Creation

  • Creation

    anonymous, Candi Sewu

  • Dating

    c. 800 - c. 900

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    volcanic stone (andesite)

  • Dimensions

    width 160 cm x height 40 cm x depth 76 cm x weight 572 kg

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    On loan from the Royal Asian Art Society in The Netherlands (transfer Oudheidkundige Dienst Nederlands-Indië, 1931)

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; collection Aerchaeological Service of the Dutch East Indies; acquired by the Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst, 1931; {Southworth 2017} from whom on loan to the museum, 1972’.

Documentation

    • T. van Erp, Hindoe-Javaansche steenplastiek in het Stedelijk Museum te Amsterdam, uit: Maandblad voor beeldende kunsten, 11, 1934, 9, pagina 259-272 - p. 268, 270-271
    • W.A. Southworth, ‘Twelve Stone Sculptures from Java’, Rijksmuseum Bulletin 65/3 (2017), pp. 244-275
    • H.F.E. Visser, Het Museum van Aziatische Kunst in het Stedelijk Museum te Amsterdam I : Eenige aanteekeningen over de inrichting en het indische gedeelte der verzameling, uit: Maandblad voor beeldende kunsten, 9, 1932, 5, pagina 131-139 - p. 137-139
    • William A. Southworth, 'F.D.K. Bosch and twelve Central Javanese sculptures from the Archeological Service of the Dutch East Indies', Aziatische Kunst 43/3-4 (2013), pp. 62-71.
    • Albert le Bonhour, La sculpture indonésienne au Musée Guimet : catalogue et étude iconographique, 1971, p. 323.

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