Pull Toy of a Cart and Driver
Bronze and terracotta wheeled objects, probably intended to be children's toys, are found in many cultures—the early art of India, for example, is rich in such material. It is assumed that when made from the more costly bronze, the toys were for children of the upper classes.
Bronze toys with wheels and axles from the Eastern Javanese period usually take the form of horses and riders or rams and other animals. Representations of carts and drivers are uncommon but probably once existed in some numbers. In this example, the cart, faithfully reproduced from some original, is carefully modeled, but the driver is represented in a curiously cursory fashion. His dress and hairstyle indicate his humble origins, and his cap (or pigtail) and long pointed nose give him the look of a character from the Javanese shadow-puppet world. The significance of the short object in his right hand and of the longer one held in his left and extending beyond his elbows is unclear. The charm of the object is as apparent to us today as it must have been to its original owner.
Bronze toys with wheels and axles from the Eastern Javanese period usually take the form of horses and riders or rams and other animals. Representations of carts and drivers are uncommon but probably once existed in some numbers. In this example, the cart, faithfully reproduced from some original, is carefully modeled, but the driver is represented in a curiously cursory fashion. His dress and hairstyle indicate his humble origins, and his cap (or pigtail) and long pointed nose give him the look of a character from the Javanese shadow-puppet world. The significance of the short object in his right hand and of the longer one held in his left and extending beyond his elbows is unclear. The charm of the object is as apparent to us today as it must have been to its original owner.
Artwork Details
- Title: Pull Toy of a Cart and Driver
- Period: Majapahit period (1296–1520)
- Date: ca. 15th century
- Culture: Indonesia (East Java)
- Medium: Bronze
- Dimensions: H. 10 11/16 in. (27.2 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987
- Object Number: 1987.142.261a–c
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.