A Fine Old Leti Island Ancestor Figure Maluku Tenggara Province in Eastern Indonesia

A Fine Old Leti Island Ancestor Figure, Maluku Tenggara Province in Eastern Indonesia

Throughout the islands of Maluku Tenggara in eastern Indonesia, ancestor images indicated important links between the living and the dead. Small seated ancestor figures depicted deceased family members and were kept and used within the home. The present image is likely from Leti Island, where such images were called yene.

Each depicted a specific recently deceased individual and served as a vessel in which his or her spirit resided temporarily before departing for the land of the dead and to which it periodically returned to receive offerings or be consulted about important matters. On Leti, the pose of yene indicated the gender and status of the deceased. Male ancestors were shown seated with the legs drawn in to the body, and female ancestors were depicted with the legs crossed.

Carved by a master carver in the early 20^th Century, from a single piece of hardwood in the typical squatting pose and resting on an uneven square base.

The Squatting Figure goes from ancient China throughout SE Asian and onto New Guinea & the Pacific Islands.  The pose is the same as for the Bulul Figures from the Ifugao People in the Philippines to the famous Korwar Figures from West Papua,

The figure has an old patina from handling.

Provenance:  Australian WW2 Soldier : The figure was brought back during WW2 (1940s or at least 80 years ago) by serviceman that were there fighting the Japanese.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Oceanic Art

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