Lot 9
Wooden Carved Architectural Ornament
Passed — did not sell at this auction
About this lot
Estimated Value: $1,500-2,500
Origin: Oceanic Region, potentially Papua New Guinea or the Indonesia, Sumatra
Dimensions: 88x24x6 in.
Condition: Wood shows some staining from age and has some light scratches on the edging.
Additional Information: Believed to be an architectural ornament to go on the tops or sides of huts or houses. A Batak gable ornament with “aso” protective and mythological powers. The ornament is carved our of wood and has a larger pointed top and a pointed bottom. It has swirling carved designs and circular geometric designs. There is also a black painted simply painted figure riding a horse. This ornament may be an Indonesian Toba Batak Singa Guardian Roof Gable. It is believed to be from the late 19th century or early 20th century. Toba houses were traditionally decorated with carvings decorated with designs, sometimes with horses. Horses were costly prestige items owned by high-ranking families, but they were also believed to enable humans to safely move between earthly and ancestral realms.
The board could also be a story board or ancestorial board from Papua New Guinea. These typically depicted stories or events. They are a form of traditional art and cultural memory, showcasing daily life, religious beliefs, and encounters with the natural world.
Reportedly, provenance: from Rudi South, Dallas, TX.
Lot details
- Lot
- 9
- Closed
- June 27, 2025
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