MISSIONARY-ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Six panels from the fascinating Temple of Borobudur, Indonesia

Being restored thanks to the generosity of the Illinois Patrons

The Ethnological Museum is proud to present the astonishing collection of the only existing plaster copies of the original friezes of the temple of Borobudur, in Indonesia. Borobudur is a wonderful ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. They show the complete frieze of the walls of the temple that were subsequently lost forever due to the humid climate of the island of Java. This is the largest and most popular religious temple among the Indonesian islands. The monument is comprised of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues. Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of the Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. This holy site was lost to the world until 1814 when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, rediscovered its location thanks to help of the native Indonesians. In 1920, a German Company made plaster copies of the wall relieves. This project was carried on in order to save the images which were slowly and irreversibly deteriorating due to humidity and rain corrosion. Borobudur was finally restored through more modern techniques in 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO. Successively, the temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 24 plaster copies entered the Vatican for the Universal World Exposition in 1925 during the Papacy of Pope Pius XI. The restoration proposed this year will focus on 6 of the 24 panels that are in the worst condition and need immediate restoration.

Two African Lirae

Being restored thanks to the generosity of Sir David Krakowski, KCHS

These are two gorgeous African lirae, which look like small guitars and date back to the XIX-XX century. Their shape is elegant and simple. These instruments were played during ritual ceremonies, but there is no further information about their origin or other functions. Hopefully, the restoration will enable the researchers to better understand their other possible uses.

Japanese Sword Wakizashi signed “Yasutsugu”

This restoration project is being made possible thanks to the generosity of Patron students at Loyola Academy, Illinois

This precious 19th century Japanese sword was made in the Kesho style by the school of Yasutsugu. There are various styles of the Japanese katana, but the Kesho is the most important one. The blade has been made by Yasutsugu himself - IX or X dynasty - who also gave his name to his famous school active between XVI and XIX century. The Yasutsugu School was one of the official schools of the Shogun Tokugawa (this family ruled in Japan from 1603 to 1868).