Ancestor figure

Title
Ancestor figure
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Toba or Pakpak-Dairi Batak, North Sumatra
Dimension
Object size: 63.0 x 10.0 x 10.0 cm
Accession No.
2013-00945
Credit Line
Gift of the Mandala Foundation

A wide variety of three-dimensional human figures or gana-gana, were produced by the Batak sculptor. These included debata idup, literally ‘living ancestors’, which represent departed relatives and sometimes came in male and female pairs. Debata idup figures were representations of ancestors and would have been prominently displayed in major life ceremonies in order that the ancestors could witness the happenings of the household. When not being used they were carefully stored in the rafters of the house, an area that is considered sacred by most traditional Southeast Asian communities.