Pair of ancestor figures

Title

Year/Period

Late 19th - early 20th century

Region

Moa Lakor District, Babar, Southwest Maluku, Indonesia

Object Type

sculpture (visual works), fetishes

Material

wood (plant material)

Technique

woodcarving (process), woodworking

Dimension

Gross Measurement: 137 cm,
Gross Measurement: 124 cm

Accession No.

2014-01179

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

This pair of figures representing ancestors was made to act as guardians. They are beautiful examples of the often highly stylised and simple sculptural art of the remote island of Babar in eastern Indonesia.These figures would have been placed strategically near the entrance to a village and were meant to protect the community from otherworldly dangers such as malevolent spirits which could bring disease or cause accidents.