Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Batak people, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A wonderful example of a hand-carved wooden shaman staff (known as a tunggal panaluan) with a thick iron cone situated around the bottom. The slender staff is surmounted by a highly stylized anthropomorphic figure, bedecked with an enormous headdress, riding on and grasping the horns of a human-faced creature standing atop a tiered plinth. Billowing from the rider's headdress are lengthy strands of coarse, brown horsehair that create a wispy effect when the staff is moved. Rich brown patina envelops the entire staff and imbues it with an attractive presentation. Size: 1.5" W x 55.3" H (3.8 cm x 140.5 cm)

Magical shamanic staffs like this example were carved by the shaman over a period of years as a process of honing skills in medicine, spiritual cleansing, and patience. During this time, a boy would be taken from an enemy village, apprenticed to the shaman, and ultimately sacrificed in a ceremony to 'activate' the inherent powers of the magic staff. Furthermore, the brain matter of the sacrificed boy would be first powdered and then placed into a notch in the top of the staff by the cloth and horsehair plug. Once complete, the shamanic powers of the staff would be officially activated.

For another example of a tunggal panaluan, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1988.143.85

Provenance: private Chico, California, USA collection; ex-private Arkansas, USA collection

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#156231

Iron cap on base reattached, with small chips to pigment along attachment point. Minor abrasions to handle, body, and tip, with light fraying and desiccation to hair, and fading to pigment in some raised areas. Great remains of original pigment throughout.