A PAIR OF IMPOSING WOOD ‘SINGA HEAD’ ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTS, SUMATRA, TOBA BATAK PEOPLE, LATE 19TH-EARLY 20TH CENTURY

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A PAIR OF IMPOSING WOOD ‘SINGA HEAD’ ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTS, SUMATRA, TOBA BATAK PEOPLE, LATE 19TH-EARLY 20TH CENTURY This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Indonesia. Each boldly carved, the grotesque faces with elongated features, including incised circular eyes set beneath a strongly protruding forehead, centered by a straight anthropomorphic nose and a stylized horse-like muzzle. The surfaces further enriched with incised linear decoration and traces of red and white pigments. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: 120.2 cm and 122.3 cm (excl. stand), 150.1 and 152.4 cm (incl. stand) With associated metal stands. (4) The ‘singa’ is the central motif in Toba Batak art, a supernatural being whose image is believed to protect individuals, households, and communities from malevolent forces. The term ‘singa’ derives from the Sanskrit word for ‘lion’, although in Toba Batak tradition it represents a composite, fantastical creature that incorporates features from several animal species. Characteristic elements of the singa include three stylized, backward-curving horns crowning the head. It typically also features large, rounded eyes, a human-like nose, and a horse-like muzzle with a long, protruding tongue, a detail intended to intimidate supernatural adversaries. The singa motif appears across a wide range of objects, from finger rings to monumental stone sarcophagi. It is especially prominent on the façades of Toba Batak houses and rice granaries, where it functions as a protective emblem. This large singa head serves as a façade ornament. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood ‘singa’ architectural ornament, Indonesia, Sumatra, Toba Batak people, late 19th to early 20th century, 129.5 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1988.143.28. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams New York, 9 February 2014, lot 16 Mid-estimate: USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related subject, manner of carving, and modeling. Note the similar size (110 cm).

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