Ancestor Figure (Iene)
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Object Label
To honor deceased family members, villagers kept carved wooden figures to contain the souls of their ancestors in the family house. This seated figure (iene) from Leti has elongated limbs drawn close to the body and rests on a pedestal. The extension from the forehead may indicate the rank of the deceased.
Caption
Ancestor Figure (Iene), early 20th century. Wood, pigment, 22 7/8 x 4 7/8 x 5 in. (58.1 x 12.4 x 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Stewart Smith Memorial Fund, 42.338. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Title
Ancestor Figure (Iene)
Date
early 20th century
Geography
Place made: Molucca Islands, Leti Archipelago, Maluku Province, Indonesia
Medium
Wood, pigment
Classification
Dimensions
22 7/8 x 4 7/8 x 5 in. (58.1 x 12.4 x 12.7 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Stewart Smith Memorial Fund
Accession Number
42.338
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