Dyak totem? ceremonial spearhead? what is it?

katana · 21st October 2006, 02:04 PM

Not quite an edged weapon ......but ethnographic never the less...but what is it?
The seller describes this as Dyak....it is 18cms high...carved bone in the form of a naked man 'displaying' his genetalia ...with a wooden 'point' (..........on his head

)....the lower section is hollow to accept some sort of shaft....apparently there is some remains of the original wood shaft still there. Is it a totem?....ceremonial spear? ...is it even Dyak?

Has anyone any ideas..
.......(please not too many 'school boy' comments

)

katana · 21st October 2006, 06:50 PM

Been searching on the net,,,,found this image....no title ....no information...just a photo on a photography web site....
So what ever it is ....there are more of them....

Dajak · 21st October 2006, 08:19 PM

It is not Dajak

Ben

katana · 21st October 2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dajak

It is not Dajak

Ben

Thankyou Ben

Tim Simmons · 21st October 2006, 08:35 PM

The extended vulva

is often seen in African figures but really do not think they are African. I wonder if they are not Philippine or from some of the smaller Indonesian islands. I would not be able to tell if they were tourist stuff or not. The confident but naive nudity makes me think they may just be okay.

katana · 22nd October 2006, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

The confident but naive nudity makes me think they may just be okay.

The 'naive nudity' is one of this piece's attractions......It is a reminder of the simple liberties and freedoms we have lost in our 'civilised society'.....not that I'm a nudist or naturist

But artistic interpretation of the human form tends to be guided by censorship, public opinion, religious constraints and the Law ....no such restrictions in many ethnic environments.

Dajak · 22nd October 2006, 10:48 AM

Hi here are some pic s off Dajak charms these are from the famous ter Houten collection and was long in an museum in the Netherlands

Tim Simmons · 22nd October 2006, 10:54 AM

I think that they could also be Naga. The conical male cap. I have a bronze naked Naga pair of figures. The male is depicted with a cap.

Battara · 22nd October 2006, 08:31 PM

I don't think they are Filipino. Naga is a good thought though.

katana · 28th October 2006, 02:48 PM

Naga definately seems a likely source....but I cannot find any conclusive proof...received it today ...the 'pointed hat' is horn (IMHO cow, it is hollow)and the bone has a nice patina and seems to be 'polished' by regular handling.
The 'hat' a small circle with a dot in the centre and 'mimics' the eyes...the positions of the 'circles' form a triangle....which could be relavent.
If anyone has any ideas please let me know......I'm all 'googled' out

utami · 29th October 2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dajak

It is not Dajak

Ben

i agree with ben, it is not dajak. Your carved bone didn't have dayak style or figure.

hope this helps

spiral · 29th October 2006, 06:15 PM

I notice looking at the figures face the eyes are round & the genitals circmcised. I wonder if that provides any clues to origin?

Spiral

Flavio · 29th October 2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiral

I notice looking at the figures face the eyes are round & the genitals circmcised. I wonder if that provides any clues to origin?

Spiral

Well, i don't know the origin ,but it seems nice. Congrats!!!

Dajak · 29th October 2006, 09:32 PM

Looks like it is batak but not old

21st October 2006, 02:04 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Old Carved Bone..totem? ceremonial spearhead? what is it? Not quite an edged weapon ......but ethnographic never the less...but what is it? The seller describes this as Dyak....it is 18cms high...carved bone in the form of a naked man 'displaying' his genetalia ...with a wooden 'point' (..........on his head )....the lower section is hollow to accept some sort of shaft....apparently there is some remains of the original wood shaft still there. Is it a totem?....ceremonial spear? ...is it even Dyak? Has anyone any ideas.. .......(please not too many 'school boy' comments ) Attached Images Last edited by katana; 21st October 2006 at 06:45 PM.

21st October 2006, 06:50 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Been searching on the net,,,,found this image....no title ....no information...just a photo on a photography web site.... So what ever it is ....there are more of them.... Attached Images

22nd October 2006, 10:48 AM	#7
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi here are some pic s off Dajak charms these are from the famous ter Houten collection and was long in an museum in the Netherlands Attached Images

22nd October 2006, 10:54 AM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I think that they could also be Naga. The conical male cap. I have a bronze naked Naga pair of figures. The male is depicted with a cap. Attached Images

28th October 2006, 02:48 PM	#10
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Naga definately seems a likely source....but I cannot find any conclusive proof...received it today ...the 'pointed hat' is horn (IMHO cow, it is hollow)and the bone has a nice patina and seems to be 'polished' by regular handling. The 'hat' a small circle with a dot in the centre and 'mimics' the eyes...the positions of the 'circles' form a triangle....which could be relavent. If anyone has any ideas please let me know......I'm all 'googled' out Attached Images

21st October 2006, 08:19 PM	#3
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	It is not Dajak Ben

21st October 2006, 08:35 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	The extended vulva is often seen in African figures but really do not think they are African. I wonder if they are not Philippine or from some of the smaller Indonesian islands. I would not be able to tell if they were tourist stuff or not. The confident but naive nudity makes me think they may just be okay.

22nd October 2006, 08:31 PM	#9
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	I don't think they are Filipino. Naga is a good thought though.

29th October 2006, 06:15 PM	#12
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I notice looking at the figures face the eyes are round & the genitals circmcised. I wonder if that provides any clues to origin? Spiral

29th October 2006, 09:32 PM	#14
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Looks like it is batak but not old