Leti or Tanimbar ancestor statue - Moluccas (Indonesia) - collection Jac Hoogerbrugge

Description

Rare Leti or Tanimbar ancestral statue from the Moluccas with powerful, hushed expression and special field provenance via Fr Akerboom and Jac Hoogerbrugge.

This compact wooden ancestor sculpture depicts a seated male figure with his arms crossed over his chest - a pose that refers to tranquillity and spiritual protection. The sculpture is deeply weathered, with a beautiful natural patina and vibrant surface texture due to age and tropical exposure.

Origin & meaning
Originating from the islands of Leti or Tanimbar in the southern Moluccas (Indonesia). According to Jac Hoogerbrugge's field notes, this sculpture was bought by him from Fr Akerboom MSC in 1996. Akerboom, a member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Tilburg, collected tribal art for the benefit of the mission and sold objects with documented local provenance. Hoogerbrugge's original sketch and his handwritten note confirm this provenance.

Ancestor statues from Leti and Tanimbar represent the spiritual power of the ancestors and served as protectors of the family and village. The stylised facial features, asymmetrical posture and raised hair comb are typical of the region.

Dimensions & condition
Height 26.3 cm; width 6 cm; depth 5 cm.
Wood carvings with traces of age, cracking and natural erosion - good, stable condition.

The collection of Jac Hoogerbrugge (Netherlands, 1930-2020) was built up between the 1960s and 1980s during extensive travels through Africa and Oceania. Hoogerbrugge was known for his accurate field notes and eye for artistic quality. His collection included a wide selection of tribal art with well-documented provenance, several pieces of which are today considered reference objects within Dutch private collections.