Magnificent male ancestor figure "siraha salawa" · Indonesia - Nias · ID: 3051685
German Private Collection, Munich
Description
wood, pigments,
The figure shown here is particularly large and richly decorated. It is wearing a tall palm-leaf crown on its head, male earrings and “nifatali” neck jewellery.
It embodies a “siraha salawa”, a powerful and revered royal ancestor of the Nias people.
The figure is depicted standing with bent legs and holding batons in each hand, which is believed to symbolize the strength, power, and authority of the “siraha salawa” as a spiritual leader and protector of the community. These statues are usually placed in traditional houses or traditional ceremonies as a way to honour and respect the ancestor.
The object Magnificent male ancestor figure “siraha salawa” with the object ID 3051685 was last part of the auction Auction 104 at April 12, 2025 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 208 achieved a sales price of EUR 6,000.
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Comparing literature
Sibeth, Achim & Bruce W. Carpenter, Nias Sculpture, Mandala Collection, 2013, p. 96 f.