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Lot No. 172

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Naga, India, Burma: A rare old sculpture of a Naga warrior. Made of brass. A shaman’s property.

Lot No. 172

Naga, India, Burma: A rare old sculpture of a Naga warrior. Made of brass. A shaman’s property.


Naga, India, Burma: A rare old sculpture of a Naga warrior. Made of brass. A shaman’s property. - Tribal Art

Feared head-hunters until the late 19th century, the Naga live in the far east of India, on both sides of the border to Myanmar (that is, in the states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and in the Sagaing division of northeastern Myanmar). The present sculpture, made of yellow cast-alloy (brass) and executed with ‘waste mould’ casting, is a typical representation of a 19th-century Naga warrior. He is wearing a war helmet and his ears are pierced (for ear ornaments). Hanging from his necklace are two items — cut wooden heads — indicating that to date this warrior has killed and taken the heads of two enemy warriors. In his right hand he holds a typical Naga sword, a single-edged ‘Dao’. Bent in the elbow, his left arm rests on his hip, over a wide girdle. The figure is placed on a small rectangular plate. Cast in a single piece. Only the Naga shamans were in possession of such metal figures. They used them as oracles, for prophecy. A very rare object with a few small casting defects detracting nothing from the object’s overall impression. Defects ascribable to the early period of making. H: 20 cm. 19th century or earlier. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.

Specialist: Erwin Melchardt Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465

erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at

02.11.2015 - 14:00

Realized price: **
EUR 1,000.-
Starting bid:
EUR 800.-

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Naga, India, Burma: A rare old sculpture of a Naga warrior. Made of brass. A shaman’s property.


Feared head-hunters until the late 19th century, the Naga live in the far east of India, on both sides of the border to Myanmar (that is, in the states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and in the Sagaing division of northeastern Myanmar). The present sculpture, made of yellow cast-alloy (brass) and executed with ‘waste mould’ casting, is a typical representation of a 19th-century Naga warrior. He is wearing a war helmet and his ears are pierced (for ear ornaments). Hanging from his necklace are two items — cut wooden heads — indicating that to date this warrior has killed and taken the heads of two enemy warriors. In his right hand he holds a typical Naga sword, a single-edged ‘Dao’. Bent in the elbow, his left arm rests on his hip, over a wide girdle. The figure is placed on a small rectangular plate. Cast in a single piece. Only the Naga shamans were in possession of such metal figures. They used them as oracles, for prophecy. A very rare object with a few small casting defects detracting nothing from the object’s overall impression. Defects ascribable to the early period of making. H: 20 cm. 19th century or earlier. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.

Specialist: Erwin Melchardt Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465

erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at

Buyers hotline Mon.-Fri.: 10.00am - 5.00pm
kundendienst@dorotheum.at
+43 1 515 60 200
Auction: Tribal Art
Auction type: Saleroom auction
Date: 02.11.2015 - 14:00
Location: Vienna | Palais Dorotheum
Exhibition: 28.10. - 02.11.2015


** Purchase price incl. charges and taxes

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