GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The shape of this tabelo recalls the horns of the water buffalo, which are placed below the doorways of royal houses or the prows of a ship. The scene on the ornament suggests a mythic landscape. Tiny figures riding horned animals flank a central sunlike orb and scaly serpents emerge from the tendrils that grow upward along the horns of the crescent.
Large crescent-shaped ornaments were sacred possessions both in East Sumba, where they were called lamba, and in West Sumba, where they were called tabelo. An ordinary tabelo could be worn as a forehead ornament by the raja’s son during special dances, but more powerful examples, such as this one, were sacred objects used by the raja’s priest to contact ancestral spirits.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, 2013.
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Provenance
Until 2008: Nasher Collection, Dallas, Texas
2008: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Nasher Foundation in honor of Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is the copy of the Deed of Gift in the Collections Records object file (2008.52-73).
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apply to objects where number equals 2008.65
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General Description
The shape of this tabelo recalls the horns of the water buffalo, which are placed below the doorways of royal houses or the prows of a ship. The scene on the ornament suggests a mythic landscape. Tiny figures riding horned animals flank a central sunlike orb and scaly serpents emerge from the tendrils that grow upward along the horns of the crescent.
Large crescent-shaped ornaments were sacred possessions both in East Sumba, where they were called lamba, and in West Sumba, where they were called tabelo. An ordinary tabelo could be worn as a forehead ornament by the raja’s son during special dances, but more powerful examples, such as this one, were sacred objects used by the raja’s priest to contact ancestral spirits.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, 2013.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Catalogue essays specific to object
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Function
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
Provenance
Until 2008: Nasher Collection, Dallas, Texas
2008: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Nasher Foundation in honor of Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is the copy of the Deed of Gift in the Collections Records object file (2008.52-73).
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
2008.65
source file
object_notes_2_c-0223.xml.nores