Balinese Wooden Pawukon Calendar

This traditional Balinese wooden calendar is doubled sided and carved to the top with a high, leafy flourish with traces of green pigment. It retains the original iron wire suspension loops.

Such calendars were used on Bali and Lombok to determine the correct time for festivals, rituals associated with rice planting, and horoscopes. Calendars were either painted on cotton cloth, or carved from wooden boards as is the case with this example.

The example here has on one side seven rows by 30 columns, so 210 squares in total (seven days by thirty weeks – this being a full year in the Balinese Pawukon calendar of 210 days) and these are marked with a series of crosses and circles. Some of the squares are also marked with small metal studs.

The other side is engraved with a triangle with rectangles variously marked with dots. On each side of the triangle are various syllables of carved Balinese Aksara script. Balinese calendars engraved with actual script are rare.

The engraving on the main side retains traces of lime powder which has been rubbed into the depressions. This powder, made from crushed, burned seashells and limestone is the same as that used in the betel quid.

The calendar has an old, minor, shrinkage-related crack on the upper part of one end. Otherwise, it is in excellent condition and has an excellent patina.

The calendar comes with a black metal display stand.