Mark A. Johnson Tribal Art

2678M: Ancestral Sculpture (Patong). Ironwood, traces of pigments. H: 39" (99 cm). Early 20th century. Unknown Ot Danum artist. Central Kalimantan, Borneo Island, Indonesia.

With 2678F, this pair of female and male ancestral sculptures represented the original clan or village founders. The pair were positioned in from on the common village residence or longhouse, often part of smaller house-like structure. The back of the figures are carved flat with slotted sections, meant to hold structural parts of this house. The male figure is holding a small box (likely representing a betel nut box) and sitting with a stately pose at the top of a post section decorated with botanical motifs. There are no condition issues with this sculpture.