Genealogical Chronicle Indonesia, Java, early 1800s ink, color, and gold on European paper, European leather binding of later date 16 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches (42 x 27 cm) Asian Art Association Achievement Award in honor of Bj Averitt 1994.75

This richly illuminated Javanese genealogical chronicle is an early copy of the original, which formed part of the court collection of the Pakualam royal house, established in 1812 in Yogyakarta, central Java. The manuscript comprises three distinct texts: a historical review of each of the kings of the Mataram dynasty since its founding in 1578, a genealogical chart displaying one of the two lines of descent of the Javanese kings that dates back fifty-eight generations to Adam, and a historical poem that chronicles events in the kingdom of Mataram between 1703 and 1705. The 143 page manuscript is written in fine calligraphic hand with elaborately colored decoration.


To Southeast Asia