H4402.98

Ancestral Carving (Stone Figurine) - stone, male with distended earlobes, hands on abdomen - Sumatra, Toba Bataks. "Ancestral carving--distended earlobes and rendition of eyes are typical of such Batak carvings. Larger versions of such ancestral carvings are found in burial areas. Stone ancestral carving, squatting position and interlocked hands typical of Batak ancestral carvings termed `pangulubalangan' (Ref: Hasibuan, Jamaludin, S. Art and Culture of the Batak. p. 186). Some such ancestral figurines were embellished with a hole for insertion of `pupuk,' magical substances used by Batak sorcerers. These figures are no longer used by the Toba Batak, who have largely converted to Christianity. Today they are manufactured for the tourist and art collector market." (Kathleen Adams, 1/95)

Used: made for sale | Ceremonial