Antique Majapahit Female Terracotta Head

Region: Trowulan   East Java   Indonesia

Period: 13th - 15th Century

Height including stand: 19cm / 7.5 inches   

Head Height: 11cm / 4.5 inches   

Head Width: 7cm / 3 inches

This genuine and rarely found larger than usual Majapahit terracotta head (with enigmatic expression) is unique and to be enjoyed as a nice historical piece of ancient Indonesian history. It will make an excellent and interesting gift, ideal for desk or shelf display.

It was acquired in a wooden crate of many terracotta's several decades ago, along with other nice effigies (listed on eBay) and a large assortment of terracotta fragments - as shown in the photo example.

Having resided in South East Asia and the Pacific region for several decades I've a developed passion for and a trading interest in artefacts of the region. This artefact is part of a large collection that I’m selling to downsize.

The Majapahit Empire of Eastern Java flourished during the 13th-16th centuries. It was a powerful and wealthy maritime Empire that controlled most of the trade routes through the Strait of Malacca and the Java Sea.

Terracotta pottery was an important craft during the Majapahit era. This excellently female head shows Javanese features with an infinite facial expression, with hairstyle and ear ornamentation representing a lady belonging to the upper classes.

Many figurines have been found decapitated, suggesting their use as effigies or religious offerings to the gods for bountiful harvests. It is also thought that they were secular play objects, cast aside once broken. Complete figurines are rare compared to the many headless figures or heads without bodies.

Most Majapahit terracotta artefacts are found at Trowulan, East Java. Majapahit terracotta artefacts of my collection have in the main been incidental finds by farmers agricultural activities – or unearthed by diggers who dig pits panning the alluvial soil for gold. Most terracotta heads and artefacts found are small, so to compliment them they are mounted onto wood stands.