Large Dayak Wood Hampatong Figure / House Post

Oceania, Indonesia, Borneo, Dayak Kayan / Kenyah, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A carved post which depicts a Hampatong, an ancestor and guardian figure, standing atop a cylindrical base. Traditionally placed outside longhouses or along pathways, Hampatongs served to protect the community by embodying ancestral spirits or guarding against malevolent forces. These figures are integral to Dayak culture, often used in rituals like the Tiwah ceremony, where they guard the deceased's soul during its journey to the afterlife. Size: 7" W x 32" H (17.8 cm x 81.3 cm) Item # 192911

Estimate:£301.42

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