Anthropomorphic half figure "pagar" · Indonesia - Sumatra, Batak · ID: 3032995
not available anymore
Provenance
James Willis, San Francisco, USASize
H: 38 cm
H: 15.0 inch
Description
wood, blackish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, the eyes inset with abrus beans, plugged hole in the torso and the head, filled with magical mass “pupuk”, slightly dam., crack, on base;
“pagar” primarily protect houses, fields, and people against “begu” = malevolent spirits. One form of “pagar” is a dark wooden figure with separately carved arms and large outstretched hands. Another conventionalized posture depicts hands pressed against the stomach. The figure is filled with “pupuk” and is activated by special incantations spoken by the shaman.
Comparing literature
Feldman, Jerome, The eloquent dead, Los Angeles 1985, p. 87 f.