Seated ancestor figure "adu zatua" · Indonesia - Nias · ID: 3036585
Michel Thieme, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hans van Houwelingen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Description
wood, slightly shiny brown patina, high towering three-parted head crest, hanging earrings on one side (reserved for titled male), rest. (headgear), cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
the people of Nias believe the spirits of the dead to have supernatural powers as well as the ability to influence the living in a positive or negative way. By venerating “adu zatua”, wooden images carved in their likeness, they try to appease the spirits and keep them well-disposed.
The object Seated ancestor figure “adu zatua” with the object ID 3036585 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 8.
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Comparing literature
Nias, Tribal Treasures, Cosmic reflections in stone, wood and gold, Delft 1990, p. 204 ff.