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The wood used
Albasia
The puppets are made from the albasia tree. A towering example with its trademark white bark and delicate leaves (see right) stands 30-feet-tall outside Agus' workshop.
Albasia's good for the job: a softwood with characteristics similar to pine, it is white or pale yellow with a straight grain. It resists shrinking and swelling caused by changes in humidity - perfect for the tropics - and features a distinct contrasting grain with heavy knots.
It is also extremely fast-growing and is cultured by local farmers specifically for handicrafts, canoes and dwellings. It is not an endangerd tree.
Albasia accepts stains very well, is easy to carve and is very light - which is why Agus and his fellow dalang use it for performances that may last all night.