Pair of male and female ancestor figures (ana deo)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In central Flores, two powerful creator gods are recognized and revered. The god of the heavens is called Deva or Mori Meze, and his female companion is Nitu, the goddess of the earth. Perhaps of greater everyday relevance is the power of the ancestors, since they are more closely associated with the daily lives of all living descendants.
Mouth mask probably depicting the head of a rooster
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Among the rarest of the ethnographic artifacts from the Southeast Moluccas are small masklike objects depicting the head of an animal. On the back of each of these objects is a wooden tab, extending from the inside of the head, which is clamped between the teeth and serves to hold the mask on the wearer’s lower face in front of the mouth.
The Codman Silver Dressing Table and Stool
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Codman silver dressing table and stool is an extraordinary monument in the history of American silversmithing and metalwork. Made of solid silver, this dressing set is an opulent icon of craftsmanship, epitomizing the late 19th-century taste and summing up the exuberance and extravagance of the Gilded Age.
Man's shoulder or hip cloth (hinggi), 1983.91
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Sumba is internationally known for the beauty, originality, and power of men’s ikat cloths, called hinggi . These impressive textiles were avidly collected by the Dutch and other Europeans beginning in the early 20th century.
Ben Nicholson (1965 exhibition)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The following essay is adapted from former Dallas Museum of Fine Art's director Jerry Bywater's introduction to the 1964 exhibition pamphlet Ben Nicholson which was published in conjunction with an exhibition of the artist's work at the DMFA that same year.
Ancestor worship in Southeast Molucca
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In Southeast Molucca (Maluku Tenggara), an aspect of ancestor worship was its use of human figurines, often carved in a characteristic squatting pose.
Boat symbolism in Southeast Moluccan Art
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
On most Maluku Tenggara islands, the boat not only served as a means of transport; it was also considered an important model of society. In the Kai, Tanimbar, and Babar archipelagos, as well as on the islands of Luang, Sermata, Leti, and Damar, the occupants of houses and villages saw themselves as a ship’s crew, a view that was expressed in various ways.
Headdress ornament with a human face
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
On the island of Luang—notwithstanding the introduction of the Panca Sila, the Indonesian state philosophy upholding democracy and justice—a traditional caste system endures. Historically, three classes existed on the islands: a noble elite, which produced the chiefs; a large middle class; and a caste of slaves.
Sculpture Twentieth Century (catalogue essay)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
If one were to characterize the sculpture of the 20th century in one word, that word might be diversity. For in the past sixty-five years, sculptors have explored more directions in style, form and technique than at any other time in history. Stimulated either by established traditions or by radically new aesthetics, they have produced work of tremendous variety in subject, appearance, and ultimately, meaning.
Crescent-shaped ornament (tabelo)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
During the colonial period, Sumba horses were in great demand by the Dutch for use as calvary mounts. Sturdy steeds brought a high price, and payment was frequently made in gold and silver coins.