Ironwood Sculpture, Borneo, Early 20th C.

A hand-carved “Hampatong” or ancestral effigy from the Dayak tribe in Borneo, Indonesia. Early 20th Century, possibly earlier.

Ancestral figures were important in Dayak culture as a means of spiritual protection. Among the best known are anthropomorphic sculptures known as Hampatong (effigy in local language). These statues were believed to perform functions of protection, commemoration or representation of ancestors, and were placed outside homes and walking paths.

This effigy of mother and child was carved in ironwood circa 1900 or earlier, and it shows a weathered patina.

Mounted on a bespoke black metal stand.