Tiny, yet exquisitely refined, this figure is a tribute to the consummate skill of the carver. Although the original use has long been forgotten, the miniature sculpture was probably a protective charm to ensure well-being and prosperity.

The eyeholes of most masks from Timor are hollow. Here, the use of two shells of different colors creates a disturbing contrast, heightening the intensity of the primal stare.

The sensitive carving of this figure’s eyes, mouth, and aristocratic gold ear ornaments contrasts with the dramatic abstraction of the body. The seated pose encompasses three different compositions.

The distinctive posture of this ancestor figure suggests a detachment associated with a trance or deep sleep: its eyes appear closed, the arms hang straight, and the legs seem not to support any weight.

This skirt (lawo butu) offsets an ikat panel of ancestral figures and horses with beadwork that includes sun-like medallions, chickens or roosters, scorpions, and figures with upraised arms.

This ceremonial skirt (tais feto) sumptuously combines panels of plain weave, tight ikat patterns, and elaborate side panels populated by anthropomorphic creatures.