A wooden statue Siraha Salawa nobel Nias Ancestor Figure Indonesia

This Dayak Tribal Baby Carrier from Kalimantan, Borneo, is a stunning example of traditional indigenous craftsmanship. Made from a combination of beads, rattan, and wood, this carrie...

This Japanese Noh mask is a finely crafted example of traditional theatrical art, hand-carved from wood and featuring a serene, enigmatic expression typical of classical Noh performa...

Indonesia, Nias, 19th century H. 37.5 x W. 10 cm Sculptures like the one present are not only decorative items but are believed to be vessels that house the spirits of ancestors and are used to communicate with them. After the death of a person a wooden image or Adu Zatua was made to mediate between the human world and the spiritual realm. These kinds of figures were commissioned by noble Nias families, whereas simple and lesser quality carvings generally were found among lower class families. In this particularly fine example, the sculptor has paid careful attention to the proportions of the different parts of the body, dividing it into three main sections – the head, the torso, and the legs. The shapes are sometimes flat, round, or have notches, but all are perfectly in balance creating a certain divine tranquillity. This Adua Zatua’s ears are decorated with earrings, and it is wearing a headdress, pointing towards a chiefly provenance. In 1914 the Dutch gained complete control of the island of Nias and started spreading Protestant Christianity. Many ancestor statues...

This 'Nifatali-tali' necklace is a type of necklace worn by the people of Northern Nias Island, North Sumatra. This necklace is equally worn by men and w...