Figural post
Indonesia - South Moluccas - Leti / Babar Island
n'est plus disponible
Taille
H: 100 cm
H: 39.4 inch
Description
wood, brown patina, traces of black paint, indented base, carved with an armless trunk, ornamented with floral design in flat relief, dam., the surface signed by severe traces of weathering and insect caused damage, on plate;
sacrificial posts played a significant role in rituals that honoured ancestral spirits who presided over the land and instructed the people in the raising of cattle, in agriculure, hunting and fishing, architecture, and social institutions. Not only did the ancestors pass on these traditions to the living, they also watched their descendants to ensure that customs were carefully followed, punishing those who failed to conform. The receptacle on top might have been used for offerings to the ancestors.