Majapahit: Sculptures from a Forgotten Kingdom

The distinguished terracottas were created during the Majapahit empire, the powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that ruled over part of present-day Indonesia, and from the late 14th to early 16th century they played an important role in Java and its neighbouring countries. It was known for its cultural achievements, particularly in literaure, art and architecture, yet in the 15th century it foundered due to internal conflicts and external pressure from nearby empires. 

Majapahit art had a decisive infl uence on the development of Southeast Asian culture. The characteristic style of the works, which feature a delicate interplay of form and decoration, is marked by a rich iconography and was strongly informed by Sivaism and Buddhism. The iconography is associated with religious Hindu-Buddhist myths, legendary creatures, and human and animal figures, such as, for example, avatars of deities, fragments of myths, or religious tales. Yet it cannot be ruled out that some of the pictorial works, distinguished as they are by lively, almost realistic features, portray commonplace human figures and objects from real-life circumstances and everyday life.

The sculptures in the book originate from Trowulan in East Java. At the end of the 20th century they were exported to Italy, where they began to be collected. Despite being patently important given their frequency in the archaeological site of Trowulan, many of these surviving works and subjects have as yet never been examined.

The publication presents complete views and details of 77 Majapahit terracottas in some 250 illustrations, as well as in-depth explanations of the iconography, providing a closer understanding of their constitution. A unique and fascinating insight into the forgotten world of the Majapahit!