Tanimbar Islands, Southeast Moluccas, Indonesia
19th century
Wood
Height: 17 1/2 in / 44.5 cm
Jef Van der Straete, Lasne/Brussels; Sotheby’s, New York, May 15, 1991, Lot 9; Stanley Lederman, New York
A 19th-century ancestor figure from the Tanimbar Islands in the Southeast Moluccas. Carved in wood, the figure reflects the sculptural traditions of the region, where ancestral images were connected to lineage, protection, and ritual life. The compact form and animated stance are characteristic of Moluccan sculpture, with a developed surface patina from age and handling.
The documented provenance places the figure within a known collecting history, including Jef Van der Straete, Sotheby’s New York, and Stanley Lederman. Its scale, surface, and regional attribution make it a strong example of Southeast Moluccan ancestral sculpture. The piece should be presented with restraint, emphasizing its form, patina, and provenance rather than unsupported claims.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Tanimbar Islands, Southeast Moluccas, Indonesia
19th century
Wood
Height: 17 1/2 in / 44.5 cm
Jef Van der Straete, Lasne/Brussels; Sotheby’s, New York, May 15, 1991, Lot 9; Stanley Lederman, New York
A 19th-century ancestor figure from the Tanimbar Islands in the Southeast Moluccas. Carved in wood, the figure reflects the sculptural traditions of the region, where ancestral images were connected to lineage, protection, and ritual life. The compact form and animated stance are characteristic of Moluccan sculpture, with a developed surface patina from age and handling.
The documented provenance places the figure within a known collecting history, including Jef Van der Straete, Sotheby’s New York, and Stanley Lederman. Its scale, surface, and regional attribution make it a strong example of Southeast Moluccan ancestral sculpture. The piece should be presented with restraint, emphasizing its form, patina, and provenance rather than unsupported claims.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
