Balinese Lontar Palm Leaf Manuscript, Hindu Epic Scenes (Auction 2026-05-15, Lot 116)

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Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Bali, ca. mid-20th century CE. A finely incised Balinese palm-leaf manuscript (lontar) composed of multiple narrow, rectangular folios bound together with a central leather cord and capped by protective wooden covers. Each folio is etched with intricate illustrations depicting divine and mythological scenes, including boar hunting – likely episodes from the Ramayana or Mahabharata – and the versos feature lines of script, traditionally written in Old Javanese (Kawi) or Balinese. The entire manuscript is elegantly presented within a modern acrylic panel for display. Size of wood cover: 12.75″ L x 1.5″ W (32.4 cm x 3.8 cm); acrylic panel: 14.75″ W x 35″ H (37.5 cm x 88.9 cm)

Provenance: private Wichita, Kansas, USA collection

Fissure to one leaf with a loss to another as shown. The manuscript is mounted with adhesive to a modern acrylic panel and fitted with a wire on the verso for display.