145 - A zodiacal water jar (prasen) with a bronze lid featuring a green patina and cast relief decoration of twelve wayang-style figures representing the twelve Javanese months and seasons (mangsa); the lower part is adorned with zodiac symbols (nirayana). The base is adorned with a turtle in relief. At the top of the side, above the first zodiac sign of Sagittarius, a date appears in a cartouche, likely in Saka numerals: 1272 (1350 A.D.). (Missing parts)

A zodiacal water jar (prasen) with a bronze lid featuring a green patina and cast relief decoration of twelve wayang-style figures representing the twelve Javanese months and seasons (mangsa); the lower part is adorned with zodiac symbols (nirayana). The base is adorned with a turtle in relief. At the top of the side, above the first zodiac sign of Sagittarius, a date appears in a cartouche, likely in Saka numerals: 1272 (1350 A.D.). (Missing parts) H. 13.5 cm. 14th century INDONESIA Provenance: Christie’s auction, Amsterdam, June 7, 1989, lot 321 (illustrated) Private collection, Brussels Reference: Similar examples held at the British Museum, including one dated 1329, no. 1859,1228.139; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide (20022S3(a&b)); British Museum, London (1859,1228.138, 139; 1878,0210.1, 3; 1910,-.500); Linden-Museum, Stuttgart (SA 35 303 L); Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge (1884.4.1–2); Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (AK-RAK-1991-16 and MAK 275 [on loan]); and Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven (2021.55.11). This water pot is a type of ritual object associated with water, highlighting Indonesia’s specific tradition of attributing magical powers to water. The decoration illustrates that the water contained in this pot was considered to be imbued with the energy of the sun and the powers of the cosmos. Most of these pots bear a date between 1321 and 1430 inscribed in the Saka calendar.