Auction 104
Zemanek-Münster
Rare megalithic ancestor figure "gowe ni’oniha", 2nd half 19th century
Rare megalithic ancestor figure "gowe ni’oniha", 2nd half 19th century 2/6 Rare megalithic ancestor figure "gowe ni’oniha", 2nd half 19th century 3/6 Rare megalithic ancestor figure "gowe ni’oniha", 2nd half 19th century 4/6 Rare megalithic ancestor figure "gowe ni’oniha", 2nd half 19th century 5/6 Rare megalithic ancestor figure "gowe ni’oniha", 2nd half 19th century 6/6
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Lot 40
93rd Tribal Art Auction

Rare megalithic ancestor figure "gowe ni’oniha", 2nd half 19th century

Indonesia - South Nias
sold EUR 8,000
Provenance
Emile Deletaille, Brussels, Belgium (1998)
Size
H: 76 cm
H: 29.9 inch

Description

lime stone, base

Most megalithic sculpture is commemorative in nature, created to honour members of the nobility, a tradition inspired by the people’s strong belief in ancestor spirit worship. This stone sculptures are used to mark burial grounds or are simply placed outside houses to commemorate deceased family members.

The rest of an appendix on the head suggests that the figure originally had a sculptural top. But it could also have served as an architectural part of a house (base of a supporting pillar) to protect the inhabitants from evil forces.

This figure captivates with its clearly defined geometric forms, which make it appear surprisingly modern.

Comparing literature

Barbier, Jean Paul & Douglas Newton (ed.), Islands and Ancestors, Munich 1988, p. 202, Plate 5

Notices

This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).

Asia
Figures

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