photograph of current display in the Grand Vestibule

Grand Vestibule: The British Monarchy and the World

The Grand Vestibule at Windsor Castle reflects interaction between the monarchy and the wider world

INDONESIA

Wayang golek (rod puppet)

1974

RCIN 66036

Indonesian puppet theatre (wayang) follows set characters whose interaction is narrated by a puppeteer (dalang) and accompanied by gamelan music. This puppet comes from the golek genre, in which the figures are operated by rods. Dozens of different stories and language styles exist, and puppeteers 45 study for many years under their teachers to learn a repertoire of songs and phrases which they insert creatively into well-known structures. 

Presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Vice President of Indonesia, Hamengkubuwono IX, during her State Visit to Indonesia, 15–22 March 1974.


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