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| On the cover this month |
Indonesian fan, the gunungan or mountain, the symbol
of the unity of the cosmic order c.1970
coloured buffalo-leather fan, with horn handle; 107.0 x 47.7 cm
Pictures Collection, nla.pic-vn3425400
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The gunungan plays a significant role in Javanese puppetry. A mountain-shaped
symbol of world order, the gunungan depicts the abode of the gods and has been
identified with the tree of heaven. It is thought that the symbol has Indian origins
and it is regarded as a holy object that brings luck to its owners. The fan forms
part of the remarkable collection of objects that have been given to the Library’s
Asian Collections. Read more about this precious resource in this issue.
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