Publisher's Synopsis
Java - deep rainforests, dangerous volcanoes, mysterious temples. Inhabited by people for millions of years, the Indonesian island world was also home to powerful Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms for 1,000 years. In this fascinating culture, unique objects of incomparable beauty were created from the material that has captivated humanity for thousands of years: gold. The present work presents a fascinating kaleidoscope of Hindu and Buddhist craftsmanship from the 7th to 15th centuries. Timelessly beautiful jewelry and cult objects still demonstrate breathtaking splendor and high artistry today. The richness of the filigree objects in form and decoration is unparalleled in the world. Rings, bracelets and necklaces as well as impressive tiaras and pendants have not lost their magic to this day. These gems have always fulfilled not only decorative but also ritual or social functions, which can be seen in the varied motifs. The golden masterpieces were often reserved for certain groups, classes or phases of life. They tell of a society in which beauty was ritually expressed and emphasized through gold objects. Power and religious demands unite with the pursuit of perfect beauty, which receives its perfect aesthetic form through Hindu-Buddhist craftsmanship. As a companion volume to the exhibition in the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums, which is dedicated to Javanese gold objects for the first time in Germany, this volume traces the historical and social facets of the Hindu-Buddhist period in Java.
