Pair of "singa" heads · Indonesia - Sumatra, Batak · ID: 3032123
sold
EUR 2,800
Size
L: 112 cm
B: 43 cm
L: 44.1 inch
B: 16.9 inch
Description
light-coloured wood, polychrome paint, in form of zoomorphic “singa” heads, trunk, big ears and horns recognizable, covered with ornamental decor in flat relief, min. dam., minor missing parts, traces of abrasion;
such heads originally were parts of beams used to support the roof of a rice granary. They probably represent the mythical snake, “naga pahoda”, a supernatural being incorporated into the belief system of Southeast Asian cultures that were influenced by ancient Indian religion. These heads served a protective function for crops and harvested grain.
Comparing literature
Jay, Sian, Art of the Ancestors, Nias, Batak, Dayak, London 2007, p. 38 f.