Shrine guardian in the shape of an "aso" dragon

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Description

wood, glass beads, metal,

This figure with an “aso” head once flanked the narrow side of an ancestral shrine, as was reserved for members of the village nobility (vlg. Johnson, 2020, p. 115, pl. 33 a-d).

The mythological animal “aso”, a hybrid of dragon and dog, is one of the most important symbols of Dayak culture. “Aso” acts as a guardian who is supposed to protect the Dayak from evil spirits.

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Comparing literature

Johnson, Mark A., Kayanic Dayak Art from Borneo, Vol.I: Guardian Sculptures, Marina Del Rey, 2020

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