1934.25.37

Collection type

Object

Description

Carved wooden figure, the antu of lumbago. [SM (Verve) 21/11/2013]

Long description

Carved wooden figure, the antu of lumbago. Semi-crouched figure in human form carved from a single pieces of wood, with one hand holding the lower back and the other covering the belly and groin. The body has triangular-shaped incised decoration on the chest, the legs are smooth and the edges of the arms are slashed forming triangular notches. The figure wears a head-dress decorated with incised slashes and triangular notches around the top edge and two rows of incised zig-zag below. It has prominent ears, which are also noched along the outer edge. The ears are slightly hollowed in the centre. The figure has carved flat leaf-shaped eyes, a long nose, shallow jaw and a representation of carved hair on the back of the head. The front of both feet are damaged and missing. [SM (Verve) 21/11/2013]

Geographical reference

Malaysia

Asia > South-eastern Asia > Malaysia

Sarawak Mukah

Cultural groups

Melanau

Person

Field collector Robert Walter Campbell Shelford

PRM source Audrey Shelford

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1912

Date collected

By 1912

Acquisition information

Donated: 1934

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Process Carved, Process Notched

Dimensions

Depth: max 84 mm, Height: max 370 mm, Width: max 96 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1934.25.37

Associated publications

Description by Julia Nicholson and Beatrice Clayre for article in the Journal of the Sarawak Museum, forthcoming (1997): Semi-crouched figure in human form with one hand holding the lower back and the other covering the belly and groin. The body has triangular-shaped incised decoration on the chest, the legs are smooth and the edges of the arms are slashed (in Oya this would suggest a water spirit). The figure wears a head-dress (songkop-like) decorated with incised slashes around the top edge and two rows of incised zig-zag below. It has prominent ears, slashed along the outer edge, scoop marks for earholes, flat leaf-shaped eyes, a long nose, shallow jaw and representation of hair on the back of the head. There is extensive damage to the lower right leg and both feet (breakage). Habitat and place of deposit: According to Lawrence and Hewitt this spirit frequents the neighbourhood of the Asam paya (Zalacca conferta) trees in the swamps, he eats the fruit of the palm and is deposited on the ground in the forest. Illness: Lumbago. Classification and comparable pieces: No name was attached to the carving, but it was said to be the spirit which caused lumbago. This fact and its description, particularly the position of the arms, allowed it to be identified from Lawrence and Hewitt. See Morris, 1997: category 10 (Durhig); Lawrence and Hewitt, 1908: p.401; Morris, 1907: p.*** (check what page inventory no. 50 is on) [JN]

Search terms: Figure, Religion, Medicine, Amulet