Balinese Polychrome & Gilt, Carved Image of Vishnu (Wisnu) on Garuda

This fine carved wooden image shows Vishnu (or Dewa Wisnu or simply Wisnu to the Balinese) astride his vehicle (vahana) Garuda, a half bird, half man creature. Both are decorated with green, red, grey, orange, yellow and cream polychrome with gold leaf highlights.

Garuda has a large beak, powerful legs that are splayed, a prominent pair of open wings and tall tail feathers (the tail feathers have been carved separately). Vishnu sits on his shoulders and leans forward, with his legs dangling down Garuda’s chest, and Garuda grips both of Shiva’s feet in his hands to steady him. Vishnu carries in his right hand what was probably a trident with three prongs but now only two are apparent.

Both Garuda and Vishnu wear crowns and jewellery. Vishnu has a naturalistically-carved face with fine facial features including a moustache.

Garuda wears a sarong made of the chequerboard textile is known as kain poleng, a sacred textile the Balinese commonly wrap around sacred objects.

Vishnu was linked with notions of kingship, and so Bali’s early courts had a strong attachment to the imagery of Vishnu, his avatars Rama and Krishna, and to his wife Dewi Sri, who served as the patron goddess of rice and agriculture.

What were such images used for in the nineteenth century? Their precise function is not known. Most wooden statues were used as architectural elements but that is not the case with this example, which is too fine, and clearly was designed as a stand-alone piece. Reichle (2010, p. 241) comments that such images were likely designed as decorative items to adorn royal palaces.

The image is detailed and well carved. It has a fine patina; its significant age is obvious. The patina is not the result of weathering but more the simple passage of time. The image is in a fine, stable condition and is without cracks or chips.