IBAN (DAYAK) ethnic group, Sarawak, Borneo, Indonesia - Lot 94

IBAN (DAYAK) ethnic group, Sarawak, Borneo, Indonesia Measuring stick and "tun-tun" hunting charm, Borneo. Long stick at the top of which, on a on a sort of cubic capital, sits a seated anthropomorphic figure. Its elbows are bent and rest knees, which are also bent. The head is supported by the elbows in a pensive attitude. The face is finely sculpted, with a gently protruding nose and eyes marked by the emptiness of the eye sockets. As a stick, this object is used to measure the correct height of the trigger wire for the wild pig. The trap is complex and can be lethal to humans. This is why beliefs magical properties, protection (for humans) and attraction (for game). game). The posture adopted by the figure, known as the "Thinker" position, is common to the Austronesian area Indonesia (see Feldman, p. 24). The sculpted figure is interpreted as a representation of Se Genun, a civilizing spirit who taught the art of hunting by trapping to the Iban, an ethnic group related to the Dayak. Crusty patina, wood, monoxyle piece. Iban, Sarawak (Borneo, Malaysia). Dimension: approx. 50 cm. Estimated dating: 20th century Provenance : - Belgian private collection Selective bibliography : - Florina H. CAPISTRANO-BAKER, Art of the island Southeast Asia. The Fred and Rita Richman collection, 1994, Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) ; pp. 30-31 - Jerome FELDMAN, 1994, Arc of the Ancestors, Fowler Museum of Cultural History (UCLA) ; pp. 52- 53. - Douglas NEWTON (ed.), 1997, Arts of the South Seas, Barbier Mueller & Adam Biro; pp. 62-71 (particularly figs. 3-5, pp. 66-67). Corpus for comparison: - Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac (Paris): 70.2001.27.349 Expert : Nicolas CORIGLIANO - Cabinet Corail & Mana