Specifications

• Height: 20 cm
• Material: horn
• Position:
• Gender:
• Indigenous name: paru-paru/ paranakbodilan
• Price realised: € 1.240,-

Provenance

Lempertz Brussels, 24-10-2018, lot 103

Publications

Ref.: Sibeth, Achim & Bruce Carpenter (2007), Batak Sculpture, 266-269

Additional information

Many if not most of these bullet holders have elongated faces which are reminiscent of Karo and Toba masks deployed during funerary ceremonials. Their southern neighbours, the Angkola and Mandailing, use these paru-paru as well, but due to islamic influence use the more abstract and floralised designs.