TIMOR STATUES
Timorese art, relatively obscure within Indonesian tribal art, showcases a vibrant tradition of intricately carved anthropomorphic statues. Small statues adorn homes, used on altars or in rituals, while larger ones mark property boundaries and serve protective purposes. Elongated anthropomorphic posts feature at ceremonial altars, deeply tied to ancestor veneration, believed to house ancestral spirits. Wood is the primary medium, occasionally stone, terracotta, or metal. Decorative elements enrich the diverse world of Timorese statuary.
Rooftop sculptures atop traditional huts are both decorative and apotropaic, often representing ancestor heads, featuring multifaceted representations, birds, or animals, safeguarding dwellings and their inhabitants.
SOLD
cm 182 x 18 // 71.6” x 7”
Massive pillar of a fence for animals, carved in the shape of an sitting ancestor . The holes along the pole were used to wedge the orizzontal axes that composed the fence. The figure on top worked as a guardian for the animals. In advanced state of erosion but still in great condition. Purchased from local dealer in rural West Timor, Indonesia
