Balinese Art Deco Wooden Sculpture of a Winged Celestial (Kinnari)

Name: Balinese Art Deco Wooden Sculpture of a Winged Celestial (Kinnari)
Brand: The Collector
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Carved wooden bust of a Balinese winged celestial figure with an elaborate headdress and smooth Art Deco facial features. - view 1

1/2

Estimated value

$400 - $800

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

BALINESE ART DECO WOODEN SCULPTURE OF A WINGED CELESTIAL (KINNARI): IDENTIFICATION

A finely carved mid-20th-century Balinese wooden bust depicting a winged celestial being, likely a Kinnari, characterized by the elongated facial proportions of the Pita Maha movement. The figure features a meticulously detailed foliate headdress (gelungan), pronounced ear ornaments (subeng), and an incised collar (badong), contrasting with the highly polished, unadorned planes of the face and wings. Carved from a dense, fine-grained tropical hardwood, likely sawo (Manilkara kauki).

Compare with other Asian art pieces in the archive: Chinese Archaistic Carved Jade Figure, Hongshan/Shang Style, Chinese Archaistic 'Taotie' and 'Chilong' Jade Pendant, Blue and White Ewer with Xuande Reign Mark.

DYNASTY & PROVENANCE

This piece exemplifies the stylistic shift in Balinese carving during the 1930s to 1950s, heavily influenced by the Pita Maha artists' cooperative founded in 1936 by Walter Spies, Rudolf Bonnet, and Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati. The transition from polychrome ritual objects to unpainted, highly ...

COLLECTOR NOTES

Pita Maha era masterworks by named carvers like Ida Bagus Nyana have achieved auction results exceeding €10,000 at specialized sales such as Venduehuis der Notarissen.

SCARCITY

Uncommon70-80%

CommonLegendary

Genuine antiques with fewer examples on the market. Named makers, documented provenance, or early production examples.

Rarity 5/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 12 asian items at rarity 5 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Limited production
Named makers
Growing collector demand

Confidence Factors

Stylistic details precisely match documented 1930s-1950s Pita Maha movement characteristics.
Natural patination and correct wood selection (likely sawo) for the region and period.
Lack of mass-production tool marks; intricate undercut details confirm hand-carving.

How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The stylistic markers of the Pita Maha movement are unmistakable in the carving technique and proportions, though absolute certainty of the exact carver requires base inspection.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Pronounced Art Deco elongation in the facial features and neck.
2Unpainted, polished tropical hardwood construction replacing traditional polychrome.
3Traditional Balinese headdress (gelungan) and ear ornament (subeng) motifs.
4Natural oxidation and patina indicative of 70+ years of age.

UNCERTAINTIES

•Lack of a visible carver's signature on the base slightly limits attribution to specific master workshops.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Examine the underside of the base for incised initials, workshop marks, or the 'Pita Maha' stamp.
→Determine exact wood species (sawo vs. jackfruit vs. ebony) via close-up end-grain analysis.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The wood exhibits a warm, stable patina consistent with mid-century production. A minor loss or chip is visible on the upper tip of the left shoulder wing element, alongside standard micro-abrasions on the highest points of the carved foliage.

Weight & feel

Given the density of tropical hardwoods favored during this movement, assuming standard 30-40cm proportions for such busts, the piece likely weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 kg.

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$400 - $800

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Southeast Asian Art Deco and enthusiasts of the mid-20th-century Balinese artistic renaissance.

What increases value

•Refinement and smoothness of the facial carving
•Intricacy of the undercut traditional headdress
•Presence of signature Art Deco elongation

What lowers value

•Lack of a documented carver's signature
•The visible chip on the upper left wing tip
•Fluctuations in the specialized Dutch/Indonesian auction market

What makes top-tier examples

•Signed by recognized Pita Maha masters such as Ida Bagus Njana
•Flawless condition with deep, undisturbed original patina

Grade & condition

Condition in this category is heavily penalized by missing wing tips, chipped headdress foliage, or deep un-patinated scratches in the smooth facial planes.