Beautiful figure of ancestor Abelam. Representation of the hornbill on the top of the head. 43 1/2 inches tall x 6 1/2 inches deep x 4 1/2 inches wide. CONDITION: Some minor scuffing, paint loss, wood splitting and edge wear / material loss in some areas please see photos.
This work has two small drill holes that kept it secure in a heavy custom-made museum mounting. This stand does not come with the piece. PROVENANCE: Old Los Angeles, California, USA collection. Inventory numbers written on verso of sculpture.
The ceremonial house of Abelam or KOROMBO was the ritual center of the village. Behind the tall, triangular facade entirely covered with multicolored paint, representing ancestors and other spirits, was a space in which the Abelam held statues, paintings, and other ritual items related to the ancestors. This great male figure -NGGWALNDU- or "father of the father" was also preserved in the initiation houses. The statue was probably lying on the ground on the back.
The art objects found in the KOROMBO represented clan spirits or supernatural beings. The NGGWALNDU were among the most powerful of all. The initiates were informed of their identity only at the. End of the initiation, which could sometimes last more than thirty years. The NGGWALNDU are usually painted in bright colors, at the top of the head, the hornbill is depicted. Important TOTEM animal for the Abelams. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks! This item is in the category "Antiques\Ethnographic\Pacific Islands & Oceania". The seller is "willsusa_utzeqm" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, Korea, South, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Republic of, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French Guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macau, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Vietnam, Uruguay.