Ono Niha artist (Nias Island, Indonesia)
Ancestors played a central role in the art and religion of the Ono Niha people of Nias Island. In the past, artists created a variety of ancestor images (adu), which housed the spirits of ancestors and allowed for communication between the human and supernatural worlds. Although all households had ancestor figures, larger, more refined ancestor images were restricted to the aristocracy and represented remote and illustrious ancestors, often the founders of noble families.
— The Metropolitan Museum
16.5″ high x 4″ wide x 4.5″ deep
Ex Mark Johnson Tribal Art
ATSS, ORIG HSSS
