Help identifying carved wood figures - Asian?

Discussion in 'Tribal Art' started by Nic2021, Jan 10, 2022.

  1. Nic2021

    Nic2021 Active Member

    My grandfather worked in the Dutch East Indies in the 1920-30s.
    I’ve inherited a number of carved wood figures. Any ideas on who/what they represent, or country of origin?
     

    Attached Files:

    Any Jewelry likes this.
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    The first one is an Adu Zatua or ancestor figure from the island of Nias. Difficult to see with such small photos, but it has age and could be either traditional or an early souvenir.

    The next two are good quality Chinese carvings, very popular in Indonesia, especially among the Peranakan community (Straits Chinese).

    The last two are wonderful antique Javanese or Madurese folk art figures. They seem to depict dancers.
    Such figures were sold to European and Indo-European colonials in the 19th century. They usually depict people from the royal courts or people from different professions. I have never seen dancers before.
    Could we see their backs?

    All in all a very nice group of carvings, Nic.
     
    johnnycb09 likes this.
  3. Nic2021

    Nic2021 Active Member

    Thanks for the reply - very helpful - I’ll need to get more photos from my parent’s house at the weekend……
     
  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    2manybooks and Nic2021 like this.
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