6 3/4" Wayang Kulit Javanese Rama Shinta Keris Silver Plated Letter Opener

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Java, like much of Asia, including Butuan in the Philippines and even further north in Luzon, was affected by Buddhism and Hinduism. Indonesia, without a doubt, still preserves many of the traditions, beliefs and language that once permeated the cultures and kingdoms of the Nusantara. This letter opener features Javanese shadow puppet-style depictions of Rama and Shinta, two characters from the Hindu epic the Ramayana. Although the island of Java is predominately Muslim now, there is still a great deal of respect for Hindu culture on the island. The body of the opener resembles a Javanese keris, and it comes in a box that has been hand wrapped with Javanese-batik printed paper. Together these embody some of the best of Indonesian history and culture. I have a Javanese keris at the entrance to my home, along with two wayang kulit (shadow puppets) and some great batik shirts from around Java.This would be a great present for a pencak silat practitioner or anyone who is a fan of Indonesian culture and history, or even someone who enjoys the Ramayana. I have not yet had a chance to watch a live shadow puppet show in Indonesia, but it is definitely one of my goals!The opener comes with English and Bahasa Indonesia descriptions of both Rama and Shinta.There is a great deal of detail on these openers borrowed from the actual handmade and read more

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