Toba Batak. Sumatra Island, Indonesia.
Wood, cloth. Standing H: 57" (144.8 cm). max W: 18" (45.7 cm), max D: 10" (25.4 cm).

The Sigale-Gale is a wooden puppet used in a funeral dance performance by the Toba Batak people on Samosir Island, in the middle of
Lake Toba, on the northern part of Sumatra Island. During the dance, the puppet is operated from behind, like a marionette, using strings
that run through the ornate wooden platform on which it stands. The setup enables its arms and body to be moved and its head to turn.

The Toba Batak believe the souls become an ancestral spirit and the children of the deceased must perform the funerary rites. If a person died childless
a Sigale-Gale is created as a substitute. Complicated Sigale-Gale could be life sized and featured simulated weaping using wet moss or sponges that could
be squeezed to make the eyes appear to cry. The wooden figure, with jointed limbs, was mounted on a large wheeled platform on which the puppet
danced and weaped during funerary ceremonies called Papurpur Sapata. This ceremony was only held for persons of high rank who had died without
offspring. The ritual dispelled the curse of dying childless, and placated the spirit of the deceased so that he would do no harm to the community.

Only the puppet is featured in this offering which was easy to photograph in a sitting position. It could be displayed in this position without further mounting.
The original post that held the puppet in a standing position is available and it would be possible to mount the figure standing up. I also have the original box
the figure was stored in. All are available to the buyer at no extra cost. The original strings are missing, but for someone willing to do so, it would be possible
to restring the puppet, attach the figure to the post, and re-attached it to the platform that is part of the box. Another option would be to remove the head and
hands and mount them separately in a more compact display. Photos of the original box are available.

There is some small damage to a couple of the joints that have been partially restored.

For price or additional information, please email your request, with inventory number and title description, to: majtribal@gmail.com.