20th C. Indonesian Malaku Islands Ancestral Marker

**Originally Listed At $1500**

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, southeastern Malaku Islands (Moluccas / Spice Islands), ca. early 20th century CE. A massive carved wooden ancestral marker, made of two pieces - one, a long, canoe-shaped form with two projecting prow ends, each ornately carved with zoomorphic openwork - and the other a tall finial that branches into the form of a sea bird with its wings spread wide. Red and green pigment decorates much of the surface, especially of the finial, which is incised with swirling motifs. Size: 22.25" L x 44.5" W x 71.5" H (56.5 cm x 113 cm x 181.6 cm)

The remote islands of southeastern Malaku remained largely uncontacted by Europeans until the 20th century, in contrast with northern Malaku, which was the ancestral home of cloves, nutmeg, and mace and was decimated by outsiders as they tried to control trade in these commodities. In the south, native people created beautiful artwork, often focusing on nautical iconography, like the canoe form here. Representations of deities and ancestors, designed to venerate them, formed the central focus of their artwork. The society is matrilineal with clans founded by women. Fascinatingly, sometimes sculptures of these clan leaders - often quite abstract - are shown with their arms spread out above their heads. The tripartite bird form at the top of this marker may be a deliberate representation of one of these figures.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-P. Kessner collection

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#148501
Condition Report: Possible small loss from one side of the lower part. Weathered cracks in the wood, especially on the canoe, do not seem to impact the stability of the piece, which stands easily on its own. Tiny inactive insect damage in very limited areas.