Indonesia. The boy carved standing atop a pedestal, his hands hanging pendant to the sides, modestly adorned with bronze anklets and earrings. Despite the extensive weathering, the face still preserves the regal expression and gentle smile, flanked by ears with pendulous lobes, the hair tied away from the face under a pleated headdress.

Provenance: Once found in the Musi River near Palembang, Southern Sumatra. Alexander Goetz, Gallery 101, Bali. A copy of a certificate of authenticity, dated 4 November 2024, issued by Gallery 101 and signed by Alexander Goetz, confirming the dating and provenance above, accompanies this lot. Alexander Goetz is a noted German art expert and collector who specializes in Indonesian works of art. As a young man, he built and sailed wooden boats around the world, and eventually arrived in Bali in 1971. Within a year, he became involved in the local art scene and in 1975, he was sponsored by the Indonesian Institute of Science to do research on contemporary art in Bali. In 1990, Goetz and his family moved to London where he opened a gallery specializing in Southeast Asian art, with Indonesia as the main focus. Since 2015, Alexander Goetz has run Gallery 101, a dedicated art space in Kabupaten Badung, Bali.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive weathering and natural imperfections including age cracks and splits. Obvious losses and chips. The bronze anklets and earrings are most likely original to the statue. Overall presenting exceptionally well.

Weight: 907.5 g (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 34 cm (excl. stand)

Palembang, located on both banks of the Musi River in the eastern lowlands of southern Sumatra, is the oldest existing city in Indonesia, dating back to the 7^th century. It was once the capital of Srivijaya, which ruled parts of the western archipelago and controlled maritime trade routes especially in the Strait of Malacca. After Srivijaya finally declined with the military expedition by Javanese kingdoms in the thirteenth century, the city was plagued by pirates, notably Chen Zuyi and Liang Daoming. In 1407, Chen was confronted at Palembang by the returning Imperial treasure fleet under Admiral Zheng He. Zheng made the opening gambit, demanding Chen's surrender and the pirate quickly signaled agreement while preparing for a surprise pre-emptive strike. But details of his plan had been provided to Zheng by a local Chinese informant, and in the fierce battle that ensued, the Ming soldiers and Ming superior armada finally destroyed the pirate fleet and killed 5,000 of its men. Chen was captured and held for public execution in Nanjing in 1407. Peace was finally restored to the Strait of Malacca as Shi Jinqing was installed as Palembang's new ruler and incorporated into what would become a far-flung system of allies who acknowledged Ming supremacy in return for diplomatic recognition, military protection, and trading rights. After the Demak Sultanate came under the rule of the Kingdom of Pajang, a Demak nobleman, Geding Suro, fled with his followers to Palembang, where they established a new dynasty. It was during this period that Islam became the dominant religion in Palembang. The Sultanate of Palembang was eventually proclaimed in 1659.