kecer
- Museum number
- As1859,1228.218.a
- Description
-
Gamelan instrument called kecer comprising painted wood stand (in form of two birds) surmounted by two brass cymbals. Carved, painted, gilded and cast.
- Production date
- Late 1700s - early 1800s (Before)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 13.30 centimetres
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Height: 27.50 centimetres
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Weight: 2.23 kilograms
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Width: 43 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
Register says: Comp. Raffles Java.Pl.fig.8
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From acquisition notes "kecer".
One of the cymbals loose (Q-Registered As1978,Q.8).
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Java is a very diverse place and the style of this piece appears to be from the east of the island rather than from Bali. It is unlikely that Raffles collected objects from Bali. The bird-like figures are typical of masquerade dramas and relief carving. This piece is very unusual and in a very different style to the other pieces of the British Museum 'Raffles Gamelan'. It also looks older. There was a considerable overlap in musical styles between east Java and Bali. From comments made by Mathew Cohen 24/10/2008.
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Register slip: 'Java. Musical instrument. "Kecher" formed of two white birds on ornamental coloured pedestal; the birds support two small cymbals to be struck by two other small cymbals with handles.Raffles Collection.'
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According to Jeune Scott-Kemball in a 1976 letter, the scaling of the gamelan instruments was determined by Jaap Kunst in 1938. All the instruments except one were slendro. The exception is pelog. The ordering of the keys in the scale was determined by a Javanese musician.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2019 29 Jan-May, Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, Raffles in Southeast Asia
2019-2020 Sept-Jan, Gallery 91, Sir Stamford Raffles
- Acquisition date
- 1859
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- As1859,1228.218.a
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: As1978,Q.8 (one cymbal also registered as, in error)
