Headpiece of a magic staff "tungkot malehat" · Indonesia - Sumatra, Toba-Batak · ID: 3040257
Description
wood, rich reddish brown shiny patina, male figure riding atop a zoomorphic being, supporting a receptacle coated with fabric on his head, fine ornamental carving, thorn with drilled hole for mortising at the bottom, base;
the most important object carved and owned by the awesome “datu” priests were certainly their long magic staffs. They were often used as supernatural weapons - to fight off evil spirits and attacks by enemy priests. They were also employed as aids to promote healing, locate lost objects, affect the weather or guarantee the success of a venture. Like other objects of power, the staffs were animated by inserting the magical substance “pupuk” into the heads of the figures and sealing or rubbing the “pupuk” into the recesses.
Publications
Manfredi, Davide & Serge Le Guennan, Batak, Paris n. d., p. 14Exhibition
Manfredi, Davide & Serge Le Guennan, Batak, Paris