Seated Figure

Unknown

19th–20th century · Wood · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Male figure portraying an ancestor or deity from Leti Island in eastern Indonesia. The figure is carved from light brown wood and shown in a seated position with legs drawn in toward the body and the arms crossed with elbows resting on the knees, while each hand grasps the upper portion of the opposite arm. The figure sits on a separately carved European-style chair. The figure wears a pointed head ornament, likely carved in the form of a gold original with a projecting central peak which flares out at the base. The ears are carved in high relief and feature long artificially extended earlobes typical of the region and from which suspends an omega-shaped ear ornament. The broad triangular nose is carved in high relief and extends nearly the full width of the face at the base, giving the carving its highly distinctive character.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th–20th century

Medium

Wood

Culture

Leti Island

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Gift of Fred and Rita Richman, 2013