Ancestor figure "adu zatua" · Indonesia - Nias · ID: 3035978
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium
Description
wood, dark brown patina, high towering crown-shaped head crest, hanging earrings on one side (reserved for titled male), rest. (right hand, nose tip, crack in the body, right foot), slight traces of abrasion;
the people of Nias believe the spirits of the dead to have supernatural powers as well as the ability to influence the living in a positive or negative way. By venerating “adu zatua”, wooden images carved in their likeness, they try to appease the spirits and keep them well-disposed.
The object Ancestor figure “adu zatua” with the object ID 3035978 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 4.
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Comparing literature
Nias, Tribal Treasures, Cosmic reflections in stone, wood and gold, Delft 1990, p. 208, ill. 37