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Gongs (gong ageng)
1840
Object Place: Central Java, Indonesia
Medium/Technique
Teak, bronze
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds donated by Mr. and Mrs. Bradford M. Endicott and Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Fraser in honor of Jan and Suzanne Fontein, and the Frank B. Bemis Fund
Accession Number1990.556a-e
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsMusical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Idiophones
DescriptionRed painted wood stand, comprised of two carved legs and a carved crossbar, from which two large bronze knobbed gongs are hung vertically on new red cotton ropes fastened by small turned wood dowels. Crossbar comprised of two carved sea serpent Nagas with intertwined tails. The capital of each post has "1840" and "[Javanese script characters for 1769]" carved on both front and back. The feet of both legs are replacements carved by Javanese craftsmen. (slendro tuning)
Provenance1840, slendro-tuned ensemble commissioned by Chinese patron, Central Java. After 1840, Priyo family, the Bupati (regent) of Blora, Central Java; about 1876, pelog-tuned ensemble commissioned and combined with 1840s ensemble, Central Java; by 1990, by descent through three generations of the Priyo family to Mr. and Mrs. Supriyo, Blora, Central Java, Indonesia; July 12, 1990, sold by Supriyo to Nyonya Nora, Surakarta, Indonesia; 1990, sold by Nyonya Nora to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 24, 1990)