Pair of "singa" heads ·  Indonesia - Sumatra, Batak · ID: 3032123

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.

The object Pair of “singa” heads with the object ID 3032123 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 7 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,800.

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Comparing literature

Jay, Sian, Art of the Ancestors, Nias, Batak, Dayak, London 2007, p. 38 f.