Gardien de sanctuaire sous la forme d'un dragon "aso" ·  Indonésie - Bornéo, Kayan-Dayak · ID: 3051285

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.

Littérature comparée

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