KERATON HORSE CARRIAGE
MUSEUM
caption :entrance of museum The
Dutch Influence In The Palace
Where did you know about a horse
carriage? I believe, for most people probably more familiar with television
cartoons like Cinderella, Ben Hur and from other Hollywood movies. But have you
ever seen it directly, in Indonesia. This is the Keraton horse carriage museum,
where the Dutch colonial era adorned the history of the Sultan of Yogyakarta
since almost three centuries ago. These horse carriage are like Ferraris in the
present day, so exalted that they are only used by the rich people only. Is very
exclusive.
Yogyakarta Horse Carriage Museum is
located on Jl. Rotowijayan Yogyakarta, or west of Yogyakarta Palace building.
Museum which was established since the throne of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VI
have a various collections of horse carriage belonging to the Sultan of
Yogyakarta. In ancient times these horse carriage were the vehicles of the Sultans
for various purposes and important events organized by the Yogyakarta Palace.
Almost noon I visited this historic
place. This building has a very strong Dutch character,
solid concrete, high ceiling roof, and sunlight peering from the window gives
the impression of ancient. I was greeted by some gentlemen, they were old but
has friendly face. That afternoon
visitors are pretty much especially those who come with family and children.
Mr. Soklin, my guide that afternoon, took me around while giving a brief
explanation of the history and uniqueness of each horse carriage. This museum
has a variety of horse carriages that reach hundreds of years old. Mondro
Juwolo Train (1800) for example, is a horse carriage ever ridden by Prince
Diponegoro, Indonesia national hero. Of the 23 collection of horse carriages,
18 trains are still used for the purposes of palace greatness ceremonies, while
the other 5 trains are not being used because of the condition is old and
fragile.
HORSE CARRIAGE WITH
THEIR ORIGIN
The colonial influence was deeply felt
in the design of the horse carriage. I can clearly see some of the horse
carriages that are European making factories. Mr. Soklin showed me a seal
inserted with spijker AMSTERDAM in
the Landower Ngabean (1901). Mr. Soklin tells, a foreign tourist said that spijker is a Dutch manufacturer that now
produces Land Rover cars. There are also seals M.L.Hermans & Co, Den Haag,
Netherlands. This seal is imprinted on the Kyai Jongwiyat train (1880). Seal of
Queen Wilhelmina, was on Garuda Yeksa (1861). This train appears dashing itself
with dragon ornaments and masculine chocolate paint. Around this train ornament
is coated 18 carat gold weighing 20 kilograms. Local made trains are also in
this museum. It is the Premili (1925) made by G.Barends - Semarang but its parts are
mostly imported directly from the Netherlands. This train is specifically
boarded by royal dancers.
The Kanjeng Nyai Jimad horse carriages
is the oldest one. This horse carriages is older than the age of Yogyakarta
Palace. This horse carriages is also named based on Javanese belief spirit. The
uniqueness also is, this horse carriages begins Nyai, not Kyai. Indicates
that the naming of this horse carriages is based on the virtues of women. Nyai in Javanese, signifies women
gender. Showing in the past that woman has a significant influence to the
palace. The horse carriages is powered by eight horses and used during the reign
of Sultan Hamengkubuwono I-III. This horse carriages was a gift from the Dutch
government, by Governor Jacob Mossel (1750-1761). This horse carriage is no
longer used and only a historical object.
The youngest horse carriages was the
Kyai Rotopralaya. It was unknown year of manufacture but was purchased in
Yogyakarta in 1938. This is a hearse carriage that
was used to transport the bodies of Sultan Hamengkubuwono to IV in 1988. The
uniqueness of this train, in addition to its largest size, is also decorated
with little angel ornaments with so called cupid on Greek mythology. Mr. Soklin
who had a strong Javanese accent actually gave me an explanation in English, "it's cupid ornament sir" so
call it. Interesting and makes me wonder if this is a blend of eastern and
western cultures.
In addition, in this museum we can see
various photo documentation of Sultan activities that use the horse carriage as a transportation vehicle. We can also
see a variety of riders equipment wich is strongly European style such as
clothes, helmets, shoes, sticks and various other riding devices. All stored
neatly in a large closet.
THE
HORSE CARRIAGE MAINTENANCE
As a valuable object that has belonged
to Sultan for several generations, the horse carriage
are bathed and "fed" in the
form of offerings. This ritual is called Jamasan,
which always falls on the first Tuesday or Friday Kliwon in Suro month (in
the Java calendar). The used water for cleaning is believed to be efficacious
and can cure various diseases. Therefore it is often contested of many people.
Special care is given to the Garuda Yeksa, especially in its gold coating. To
avoid eroding the gold, this horse carriage is cleaned up only when about to
used. It is believed that every time it is rubbed or cleaned up, it loses
around 6-7 grams of the gold.
Can you drive a horse carriage today? Of
course it can be. In Malioboro Yogyakarta, horse carriages with local says delman can still be found everywhere. Delman is more concise and still used as
a transportation, especially for tourism. Of course not as fancy as a horse
carriage but can be used to traveling around Malioboro, including to the horse
carriage museum.
caption : SEAL OF SULTAN HB KE 9 RECOGNIZED FROM THE NUMBERS OF WINGS
caption :Landower Ngabean, spijker amsterdam
caption :Landower Ngabean (1901)
caption :Kereta Premili dibuat G.BARENDS SAMARANG
caption :GUIDE MR SOKLIN SHOWING PHOTOGRAPH
caption : Garuda Yeksa
caption :garuda yeksa, SEAL OF QUEEN WILHELMINA
caption :BERLIN STAMP LAMP
caption :WARDROBE FOR CHARIOTEER
