UKUR FIGURE

The ukur is a sacred funerary object that plays an important role in death related rituals within Balinese society. It is made from a number of Chinese coins tied together with cotton yarn, to resemble a human being and thus the mortal remains of the deceased. The ukur is, traditionally, cremated alongside the corpse, attempting to achieve a release of the departed soul to higher levels in the afterlife. This particular ukur, made from 43 gold coins, is embellished with etchings and has its facial part made of wire.