Femininity in Wayang Klitik: The Female Apparel from the Eighteenth Century

Wayang is an ancient form of storytelling and theatrical arts originated in Indonesian island of Java. The handcrafted puppets come in various sizes, shapes, and styles with wayang klitik as one of the most prominent three-dimensional types. Wayang klitik is a flat wooden puppet made from carved and gilded wood aside from its arms that is made of carved animal hide. According to the history, wayang klitik was first created circa 1600s in East Java province, Indonesia as a vehicle to disseminate Islamic teaching. Because of its cultural significance, a British statesman, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles’, has been collecting wayang klitik during his lieutenant-governorship in Java between 1811 and 1816. In total, there were 44 wayang klitik acquired by Raffles during his homeward voyage. His collections consist of 33 male and 11 female figures which are currently curated by the British Museum under the Raffles collection. This research concentrates on the female wayang klitik figures because of its uniqueness of the mixed-culture motifs of the apparel. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the femininity on the apparel of the female wayang klitik figures focusing on the motif as well as the colour used. The study delves into qualitative approach and analysed descriptively through visual analysis of the apparel. The findings of this study revealed the meanings and depictions of the textile motifs on female wayang klitik apparel that characterise each of the female figure.