Ancestor figure "siraha salawa" ·  Indonesia - North Nias · ID: 3052691

Description

wood, black, partially crusted patina, traces of pigment, base

An unusually finely and elaborately crafted and especially richly decorated figurine. She wears a headdress consisting of a forehead band adorned all around with rosettes and a tall palm leave crown. A beautiful detail is the intricately worked toggle-like clasp of her “nifatali” necklace at the back of her neck. Both ears are adorned with long earrings, and both wrists are carved with bracelets.

Ancestors played a central role in the art and religion of Nias Island. Nias people call themselves “Ono Niha” (“the children of human beings”) and the name for Nias Island is “Tanö Niha”, which means “Land of the Humans”.

In the past, artists created a variety of ancestor images (“adu”), which housed the spirits of ancestors and allowed for communication between the human and supernatural worlds. While all households owned ancestral figures, more elaborate examples like this one were reserved for the nobility and represented distant, illustrious ancestors, often the founders of noble families.

Comparing literature

Casanovas, Ana & Antonio, Sea Art, South East Asian Art, Madrid, 2024