NORTH NIAS

Details

A NIAS MALE FIGURE
North Nias
Seated holding a bowl in both hands, carved asymmetrical turban and large double spool to extended ear lobe, carved necklace, moustache and beard, on shallow plinth base, reddish patina
47cm. high

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 20.825% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €90,000 (NLG 198.334). If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €90,000 then the hammer price of a lot is calculated at 20.825% of the first €90,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €90,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

Lot Essay

Cf. Feldman, J., et al., Nias Tribal Treasures, Delft, 1990, p.210, figs. 41-42 for similar figures in the Mission Museum in Wuppertal and the Museum voor Volkenkunde in Rotterdam. Such figures were probably created at an early date, shortly after "missionisation" in the northern part of Nias. According to Feldman such figures represent an early contact phase of the culture and are made by some of the finest sculptors.

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