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Lot 717
Wooden guardian figure
Estimated Value:
1.000 € - 1.500 €
Result:
incl. Premium and VAT
Description:
East Indonesia, South Moluccas, Leti, Patumera, first half of 20th cent.H. 71,5 cm
Rare, unusual hardwood sculpture from the island of Leti, which belongs to the southern Moluccas. The human figure squatting on a pedestal, which is from the early 20th century, has only two toes on each foot. The head with its expressive face is slightly tilted to one side. The figure has its arms crossed over its knees in a manner typical of Moluccan statues, which in this case creates a sympathetic, lifelike impression. According to De Jonge ("Forgotten Islands of Indonesia", 1995), this stylistic element clearly points to Leti. A circling eagle can be recognised on the pedestal, an element that possibly points to heraldic emblematics of armies operating in Southeast Asia during the Second World War. The statue shows signs of cultural change
Collected from an old German private collection since the 1950s
The islands of the Südmoluccas (Maluku Tenggara) are located öeast of Timor. Leti belongs to the Leti Islands. Leti is the westernmost island of the Leti archipelago. It is completely cut off from the outside world by the monsoon between December and April, as the anchorages cannot be used then. Around 7,000 people live on the island of Leti. The Austronesian language Leti is spoken. The legendary Patumera tribe (Orang Patumera) on Leti, Moa and Luang were people from the legendary Red Stone (Batumerah), whose deceased were said to live on the island of Wegnau. The linguistic relationship with the people of Batumerah on the island of Damar suggests that this family could have originated from there. It is conceivable that the figure represents a legendary tribal figure. There seems to be a concrete individual idea, because the figure gives a very individual impression. The Südmoluks have a very rich carving tradition, which is primarily based on ancestor worship. These are village founders, house founders, tribal mothers and other ancestors who have become gods and who are permanently remembered.
