Mark A. Johnson Tribal Art

2682: Figure Holding Tiger. Ironwood, pigments. H: 36”. Early-mid 20th century. Unknown Dayak group, Borneo Island, Indonesia. Unusual sculpture from Borneo, resembling a Javanese style Wayang shadow puppet figure. The figure is holding a tiger and knife in his arms. On his back is a sacred hornbill eating a piece of fruit (usually a motif related to headhunting) with a rooster at the base of his costume.