A rare collection of 7 painted terracotta miniature figures from the Dutch-Indonesian colonial era. Ca. 1920, Tegalrejo (Central-Java, Dutch East Indies - now Indonesia) Ref: For figures sharing a similar material cultural idea (as stated above), but made from wood, see: van Dijk, Janneke - The Netherlands East Indies at the Tropenmuseum, p 155, 156, 157. All of the figures are signed/ stamped on the bottom. Most figures have due to their age visible damages and missing pieces (oa broken arms glued back on) Dimensions: Heights vary between 16 cm and 14 cm. The Netherlands East Indies was far away, large and culturally diverse. One of the ways to make this complex society understandable to a larger public in the mother country was to organise exhibitions. Models and miniatures were an important means of exhibition. These objects, made to scale, depicted recognisable scenes from daily life. It were primarily Indonesian artisans who were commissioned by the coloniser to depict their fellow Indonesians for an overseas public they did not know. Traditional costumes, social and political authorities, festivals and rituals, as well as proas, houses and household effects, mosques, bridges and railways - everything was meticulously copied. The artisans thus contributed to the proud self-image of the Netherlands as a “great power and progressive coloniser”. At the same time, the models created an often static picture of the native society, presented in a clearly directed and regulated manner. This manner of presentation and visualisation was common and popular in the period between 1860 and 1940. This terracotta figurines bring a classic Asian look and feel to your living room. This figurines will be perfectly and respectfully packaged, and sent by registered mail.