Mark A. Johnson Tribal Art

2892: Shrine Guardian. Ironwood. H: 26”, W: 13”, D: 6”. C14 test pending (likely age 500 to 1000 BP). Kayanic Dayak complex (Modang sub-group?), East Kalimantan, Borneo Island, Indonesia. The figure, representing a mythical deity, served as a guardian for the deceased ancestor. It was cut from the end of the shrine, found in a cave. For reasons that are difficult to explain, the face was deliberately cut away (or “defaced”) in antiquity. I have a theory, but no proof, of why this may have been done. There is a section on one leg, near the torso that has been repaired (see close-up in image 2892m).