Title
Ancestral figure
Year/Period
19th-20th centuries
Region
Nias Island, West Sumatra
Material
Dimension
Object size: DIA:8.9 x H:30.5 CM
Accession No.
XXXX-11433
Collection of
Credit Line
Acquired from Perak Museum, 1909
Wooden ancestor carvings such as this were commonly found in households throughout Nias. They served as reminders of the deceased, and as charms to protect the household. They were containers for ancestral spirits. It was believed that by trapping the last breath of a dying person, the soul could be contained and transferred to the carving.
