Peace and Prosperity (Peace)
Peace and Prosperity are two carved Balinese wood figures from Indonesia. This sculpture represents Peace and is made from Satinwood. It depicts a Balinese priest in solemn meditation, with both hands folded in ritual praying. The headdress and robe are traditional costumes for priests of the highest order.
Wood carvings are found everywhere in Bali, Indonesia. These wooden statues are placed in temples, pavilions, shrines, and palaces. Demons, gods, and heroes were made into wooden sculptures or carved in wooden panels, mostly for religious purposes. Around the 1920’s foreign travelers took interest in these wooden sculptures, which led to wood carvers creating new forms.
The statues were donated on 15 December 1954 by the Vice-Chairman of the Indonesian Delegation to the ninth session of the General Assembly, Abu Hanifah.