Handcrafted Depiction of a Myth

Handcrafted depiction of a myth from the Batak people of Sumatra.

This wooden carving (17" tall and 17" wide with a 13" deep base) dates back to the mid-19th century. In Batak mythology, a boy who has left his family returns and unknowingly couples with his mother. As the sun rises and light enters the room, the mother sees his birthmark and realizes she is in her son's arms. The two confront and express their complex ranges of emotion. This is authentic folk art at its finest.