Toba Batak

Description

Magic Staff, Tonkat Malehat 19th to early 20th Century Provenance: Meta Leget, a German art dealer active before WWII. By descent to her niece, NYC resident. The most important object carved and owned by the Batak datu priests were certainly their magic staffs. This early example has a finely cast bronze figure in a classic hunkered position, with a deep and handled patina. Originally, bands of rattan would have been woven around the lighter sections of the upper portion fo the staff. For a related example, ref. The Batak, by Achim Sibeth, pg 128. Height of the bronze finial 6 1/4 in / 15.9 cm Total height: 51 1/2 In / 133.4 cm IN 6-11-20 / SOLD https://brucefrankprimitiveart.com/gallery/bruce-frank-primitive-122019-08/