1934.25.42

Collection type

Object

Description

Carved wood figure of a water spirit to keep away disease [SM 24/11/2008]

Long description

Single naga figure with a dragon-shaped head and protruding jaw with clenched teeth. The head has three pairs of similar sized horns (or two pairs of horns and two ‘places for fire’). There are small projecting eyes in front of the outer horns. The body is long and low with low relief carving of triangular-shaped scales to represent scales. The spiked reptile-like tail curves back over the body to the back of the head. The tail would suggest a male. The head, body and tail are coloured with black yellow and blue pigment, however much of the blue has now rubbed away. The figure stands on crouched legs represented by a single block of wood at the front, and rests on its tail. [JN]

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, Material Pigment, Process Carved, Process Painted

Dimensions

Length x Width: max 440 x 80 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1934.25.42

Associated publications

Description by Julia Nicholson and Beatrice Clayre for article in the Journal of the Sarawak Museum, forthcoming (1997): Single naga figure with a dragon-shaped head and protruding jaw with clenched teeth. The head has three pairs of similar sized horns (or two pairs of horns and two ‘places for fire’). There are small projecting eyes in front of the outer horns. The body is long and low with low relief carving of triangular-shaped scales to represent scales. The spiked reptile-like tail curves back over the body to the back of the head. The tail would suggest a male. The head, body and tail are coloured with black yellow and blue pigment, however much of the blue has now rubbed away. The figure stands on crouched legs represented by a single block of wood at the front, and rests on its tail. Habitat and place of deposit: No information given. Said to be thrown into the water. Illness: No information given. [JN]

Search terms: Figure, Religion, Medicine, Amulet, Religious Object, Medical Accessory