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Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Shaman's Tube

BATAK SHAMAN'S TUBE, LARGE AND COMPLEX



Material: Composite
Region: Lake Toba
Dimensions: C. 32 inches

An exceptionally large and well crafted version of the Batak shaman's ritual storage container. Measures about 32 inches, overall. Large finial plug depicts the Batak mythic guardian beast, the Naga. A shamanic figure sits astride the Naga's head, holding a ritual bowl. The bottom of the tube is stoppered with a squatting ancestral figure. The surface of the tube is etched and incised with a myriad of traditional Batak designs, ritual symbols and marks, including a large shaman's calendar, designating the auspicious and inauspicious days in the ritual - ceremonial cycle. A fine and collectible example of the craft, not ancient, but authentic and made in the Lake Toba area of Sumatra.

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