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MEASUREMENTS:  24.8 " x 4" x 3.5"     cm 63 x 10 x 9

This wooden ancestral figure ("itara") from Atauro Island features a distinctive posture and is carved from sturdy hardwood, bearing a darkened patina. The figure embodies the unique artistic traditions of the Atauro culture, an island located in the waters of East Timor. The people of Atauro have a rich heritage of woodcarving, and their statuary often serves as a representation of ancestral spirits and a connection to their cultural roots. 

 Carved in pairs representing both male and female ancestors, the itara represent distant ancestral couples who are regarded as the progenitors of specific families and lineages. When in ceremonial use, each figure is adorned with attire appropriate to its gender, with males wearing loincloths and females donning skirts. These carved images are housed within the residence of the lineage's leader, where they are suspended alongside other sacred artifacts from a revered structure known as the "ruma tara," affixed to one of the house's main support posts.

The precise purpose of these figures remains somewhat enigmatic. Nonetheless, they are believed to serve in the identification of thieves, as ancestral spirits are thought to embark on a pursuit of wrongdoers when invoked. Additionally, the itara are involved in rituals dedicated to local deities. In such ceremonies, five itara are brought together to symbolize the crew of a miniature boat, signifying their participation in sacred rites.