A very old and nicely worn ancestral "Marapu" weaving statue from Sumba Indonesia. It's head is very authoritarian, almost Batak in style. Very smooth and heavy wood and a nice patina, showing ample signs of wear from touch and rubbing. There are some small scratches here and there, showing the lighter wood underneath the patina. See pictures for details. In Sumba, ancestors or "Marapu" occupy a central role in traditional life. Statues, human, anthropomorphic or animal forms are used to protect households and individuals, often carried with individuals as a form of protection. In Sumba "Marapu" connotates both the religion and the occupants of the eternal heaven, who lead a similar existence to men: Collected in the 1970's to '80's. 31 cm high, 33 long, 3.5 kg in weight.