Rare Authentic Balinese Dewi Sri Rice Goddess Face, Indonesia, Nusa Penida Island(1253)

Description

Dewi Sri (Shridevi) is worshipped in Bali, Nusa Penida and others on the islands of Java and Lombok since the early first century and continues to be venerated in numerous rituals and ceremonies, especially those related to agriculture. As the Goddess of Rice, she controls agricultural fertility, the prosperity of all rice farmers, and the life and death of anyone depending on rice. Farmers erect permanent temples dedicated to her among rice paddies and their village homes and sometimes place offerings of rice and flowers on banana leaves in every padi tend to beseech Dewi Sri’s blessings to ensure a successful rice crop.

Balinese farmers have a traditional, cooperative, and religious rice farming system called a subak. Members produce wood carvings as physical vessels for the Goddess or Rice and Prosperity Dewi Sri’s spirit to inhabit and bring blessings to them and their rice fields. Not worn, a wood plaque like this is hung or placed directly inside small rice field temples or shrines dedicated to her. Small wood or thatched offering shrines are also placed in every rice paddy area at each milestone of the agricultural cycle. The smoke from daily incense and prayers help protect the crops from pests, disease, and poor weather, and this is likely where this item developed its distinct weathering pattern. Besides wood, a host of other sacred offerings are crafted from perishable organic materials like banana, coconut, palm, and betel leaves, colorful flowers, etc.

Dewi Sri’s origin came from the worship of prehistoric rice goddesses appearing soon after the initial stages of rice cultivation, and later Hindu sailors and tradesmen brought Sridevi from India to Southeast Asia.  Similar rice spirits and deities are found among many other Indonesian entities and also in neighboring Asian countries, especially Thailand and Cambodia.

AI Comments

The hand-carved, narrow groove near the top edge is designed specifically to allow a binding cord (like the current twine rope) to wrap around, letting the panel hang flush against a shrine post or backboard. The unpainted reverse shows the raw aging of the wood. The vertical grain splits, deeply oxidized brown color, and smoothed edges indicate natural atmospheric humidity changes over decades of shelter.