작품 상세

Indonesia This enormous wooden altar wood have been place in to a round flat stone with a hole carved in the middle. There are a few 19th century engravings known where this kind of altr is depicted but no large wooden altars remain. The stone is covered with bands of geometric motives, horned anthropomorphic figures and stylised animals.The bird motives goes back to the early bronze age when the people of the centrally place island of Timor would have traded with people from China to Australia.The white sandalwood from Timor was described by the Chinese already in the 14th century. Timor is mostly known for its exquisite textiles and finely carved ceremonial spoons that also feature intricate designs with bird and human motifs. These spoons are typically crafted from hirn or wood and are decorated with detailed engravings or carvings. The bird represent spiritual messengers and connection to the divine, while human figures often depict ancestors, warriors, or ritual participants, emphasizing the importance of lineage and community in Timorese culture. These birds connect the heavens or male element of the deities and the earth, the female deities. This altar, served as a ritual object that embody spiritual beliefs and social values, making them both functional and highly symbolic art pieces.

재료

Wood