Specifications

• Height: 49 cm
• Material: wood, tin, pigment
• Position: squatting
• Gender: male
• Indigenous name: debata hidup
• Price realised: € 10.625,-

Provenance

Jaap and Laurens Langewis, acquired in Indonesia between 1920-1940; Martin Langewis 2012; Private collection, Brussels; Christie’s Paris, 23-6-2016 lot 210.

Publications

Additional information

A rare ancestor figure which is likely to represent a debata hidup. The figure is rendered in a squatting position with the arms embracing the raised legs. This position is locally known as marhombang sila, seated in a position that the legs could be bound together with a hipcloth. Sila (bersila) is Sanskrit and means respect.

The position with concave back, circular headdress and pigmented details in black can be related to an equestrian figure, now in the holdings of the Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam (inv. nr. 17247) and which were collected in Sidikalang, the capital of Pakpak-Dairi district before 1910, shortly after annexation of the area by the Dutch colonial government.

Photo credits

Christie´s Paris