Male ancestor figure "ana deo" · Indonesia - Flores · ID: 3046691
J. M. Ydema, Etten, The Netherlands (1954)
Description
wood, pigments, rest., missing parts, base
Ancestor figures “ana deo” were placed in pairs, male/female, often on posts on both sides of the entrance door of a house and had a protective function.
They usually show the unusual gesture with the palms of the hands pointing upwards. This could be interpreted as a request for worship, as well as the granting of protection and beneficence.
The object Male ancestor figure “ana deo” with the object ID 3046691 was part of the auction 94th Tribal Art Auction on March 7, 2020. The object with the lot number 112 achieved a sales price of EUR 13,000 with an asking price of EUR 1,500.
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Comparing literature
Feldman, Jerome, The eloquent dead, Los Angeles 1985, p. 176 f.