Lot 38
Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Nias culture, ca. early 20th century CE. An early 20th century carved wooden ancestral figure from the Ono Niha people of Nias Island, Indonesia. The male figure is depicted seated on a shallow plinth base, holding a bowl in both hands as if in an offering gesture. His head is adorned with an asymmetrically carved turban, a distinctive feature of high-ranking Nias noblemen, and his elongated earlobes bear large double spool ornaments. The face is finely modeled with almond-shaped eyes beneath an arched brow, and accented by a prominent moustache and pointed beard, both likely representing ceremonial facial hair once fashioned from gold for festive occasions. Around his neck is a carved necklace, a mark of elevated status. The surface retains a rich reddish patina, softened by age and handling, with traces of original pigment. Such figures, known broadly as adu, embody the spirits of ancestors and serve as conduits between the living and the supernatural realms. Size: 6" L x 7" W x 18.8" H (15.2 cm x 17.8 cm x 47.8 cm)
Larger and more refined examples, such as this, known as siraha salawa or siraha nomo, were restricted to the aristocracy and represented remote and illustrious ancestors - often founders of noble lineages. These works were not only expressions of artistic mastery but also embodiments of lineage authority and guardianship over the household and community.
Created during the early contact phase following the Christian missionization of northern Nias, this figure reflects a transitional moment in Ono Niha culture, when traditional beliefs persisted alongside new religious influences. Carved by some of the island's finest sculptors, it stands as both a ritual object and a testament to the enduring reverence for ancestors at the heart of Nias spiritual and social life.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired via descent in 2010; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-Christie's Amsterdam, Netherlands, December 11, 2001, Live Auction 2533 "Tribal Art," lot 65 via John Molloy of Spanish and Indian Trading Co., Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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#196343
- Condition: Stable fissures and splitting to wood and a few nicks and chips in areas, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with liberal remains of pigments
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