Legong Dancer — Kneeling Grace of Old Bali - Alstonia scholaris (pule) - Indonesia - 1950-1970

- English (primaire description) - Legong is the dance of refinement — a choreography of precision, elegance and spiritual poise. This mid century sculpture of a kneeling Legong dancer captures that essence with remarkable sensitivity, carved in the Pita Maha / Mas school tradition (Mas, Bali, circa 1950–1970).

Fashioned from Alstonia scholaris (pule) — the sacred wood used for ritual and ceremonial figures — the dancer’s posture reflects the controlled grace of Legong: the fan held delicately, the torso gently arched, the floral crown adorning her head. Her serene expression embodies taksu, the inner radiance that animates both performer and sculpture.

The engraved sarong, rhythmic carving lines and monolithic block construction reveal the atelier’s mastery of detail. The untouched patina preserves the authenticity of mid century Balinese craftsmanship.

This sculpture has been part of a private collection in the Netherlands since 2023, where it has been preserved as a premium example of Balinese dance iconography — a rare mid century devotional piece with documented European provenance.

Specifications
Wood: Alstonia scholaris (pule)
Style: Pita Maha / Mas school
Period: circa 1950–1970
Dimensions: 35 × 18 × 10 cm
Weight: 1367 g
Condition: Very good — light usage traces, original patina
Origin: Dutch private collection (in possession since 2023)
Notable features: Fan, floral crown, engraved sarong, serene expression, premium mid century atelier quality
Scale Reference: A standard business card (85 × 55 mm) is shown in one of the photos as an international size reference.

Premium Packaging
Professional shipping within the European Union only. This artwork will be packed using a premium protective double-box system with bubble wrap and shock-absorbing packing material. Due to customs requirements, import regulations and the wooden nature of the object, shipping is restricted to destinations within the European Union. Shipping costs include professional packaging, handling and tracking.

Utama Art Indonesia — where Indonesian craftsmanship and heritage come together. Explore the full curated collection in this auction.

- Nederlands (samenvatting) - Deze mid‑century Balinese sculptuur toont een knielende Legong‑danseres, verfijnd gesneden uit Alstonia scholaris (pule) in de traditie van de Pita Maha / Mas‑school (1950–1970). De waaier, bloemkroon, gegraveerde sarong en serene expressie benadrukken de atelierkwaliteit en originele patina. Afkomstig uit een Nederlandse privécollectie, waar het sinds 2023 als premium dansiconografie is bewaard.

- Français (résumé) - Cette sculpture balinaise mid‑century représente une danseuse Legong agenouillée, finement sculptée dans Alstonia scholaris (pule) selon la tradition de l’école Pita Maha / Mas (vers 1950–1970). L’éventail, la couronne florale, le sarong gravé et l’expression sereine soulignent la qualité d’atelier et la patine originale. Issue d’une collection privée néerlandaise, où elle est conservée depuis 2023 comme exemple premium d’iconographie dansée.