Stamford Raffles and his wayang collection
This post is about Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, his antique shadow-puppet collection and his resting place. Stamford Raffles is a well known British statesman who governs Java in the 19th century. He is known as Lieutenant Governor of Java. Raffles is also known for his rediscovery of Borobudur temple.
![Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Sir-Thomas-Stamford-Raffles-300x123.jpg)
I can see his love of Java by looking at his fantastic collection of antique shadow puppets – currently at display at the British Museum.
![Shadow Puppet exhibition at the British Museum](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Shadow-Puppet-exhibition-at-British-Museum-224x300.jpg)
Some of the shadow-puppet shown here are the property of the British Museum. Thus, all credits/copyrights should go to the British Museum.
![Central Javanese Wayang performance](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Central-Javanese-Wayang-at-British-Museum-300x224.jpg)
![raffles wayang collection](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Raffles-wayang-collection-300x121.jpg)
Shadow puppet is also called ‘wayang’ in Indonesian. And most of the wayang on display here is wayang kulit – mainly made from hide (animal skin).
![A scene from the West Javanese wayang performance](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/West-Javanese-wayang-from-British-Museum-300x224.jpg)
![west java antique wayang](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/West-Java-Antique-Wayang-300x224.jpg)
![central javanese wayang](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Central-Java-Wayang-300x224.jpg)
![The Mahabharata Antique Wayang](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/The-Mahabharata-antique-wayang-224x300.jpg)
![bima antique wayang](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Bima-antique-wayang-234x300.jpg)
![Bima - also a Raffles collection](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Bima-explanation-shadow-puppet-224x300.jpg)
I love all Raffles wayang collection as they are very delicate – some come with gold leaf – and they are particularly very old: from late 1700s to early 1800s.
![gunungan wayang kulit](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Gunungan-wayang-kulit-300x217.jpg)
![Kayon and marching army - Raffles collection](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Kayon-explanation-at-the-British-Museum-300x173.jpg)
![Sita and Rama antique wayang](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Sita-and-Rama-224x300.jpg)
![Ravana in the epic Ramayana](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Ravana-in-epic-Ramayana-235x300.jpg)
![Togog and Doyok](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Togog-and-Doyok-wayang-kulit-300x229.jpg)
![Togog and Doyok - also from Raffles collection](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Togog-and-Doyok-explanation-300x224.jpg)
![Bathara Guru - a very intricate hand made wayang](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Bathara-guru-shadow-puppet-205x300.jpg)
![bathara guru](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Bathara-Guru-explanation-300x163.jpg)
![panji wayang kulit](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Panji-wayang-kulit-300x224.jpg)
![Naga wayang kulit](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Naga-wayang-300x252.jpg)
![A description of naga.](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Naga-explanation-300x89.jpg)
There are also Raffles’ gamelan on display at the British Museum:
![gambang for gamelan British Museum](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Gambang-for-gamelan-300x224.jpg)
![Kendang and Khenong Raffles collection](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Kendang-and-Khenong-300x224.jpg)
Now as I have admired Raffles collection, I want to share his burial place too. Probably a little less known as to where Raffles resting place is. It is in a historic church in London, to be precised it is in Hendon.
![St Mary's Church in Hendon](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/St-Mary-Hendon-Raffles-burial-224x300.jpg)
![St Mary's Church in Hendon where Raffles was buried](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/St-Mary-in-Hendon-for-Raffles-300x224.jpg)
![Beneath this stone lie the remains of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant governor of Java and founder of Singapore](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Stamford-Raffles-burial-stone-224x300.jpg)
![Raffles burial stone is laid close to the altar.](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Stamford-Raffles-burial-altar-224x300.jpg)
![A little history of Raffles grave](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/In-memory-of-Stamford-Raffles-224x300.jpg)
Looking into his collection and his resting place, remains me of remarkable history of Java and a dedication from someone who has a passion to preserve Javanese heritage.
![In memory of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Sir-Thomas-Stamford-Raffles-burial-tablet-300x224.jpg)
Maybe in the future I will be looking to read Raffles book: the History of Java, or the critical book of Raffles that my husband is reading now:
![Raffles and the British invasion of Java](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Raffles-and-the-British-Invasion-of-Java-224x300.jpg)