Architectural Ornament
This architectural ornament in the form of the head of a singa, is from a dwelling or rice barn of the Toba Batak people of northern Sumatra in Indonesia. Toba Batak peoples conceive of the singa as a composite animal and supernatural guardian. Carved in relief and painted in red, black, and white the singa has three horns: those on the left and right side curve slightly inwards with flaring semi-circular tips. The central horn extends straight upwards from the center of the forehead and ends in an angular, roughly arrowhead-shaped form with points at the apex and to each side. A rectangular hole, likely originally used for a peg or tenon that secured the ornament to the façade, is present on the forehead and extends completely through the piece at a downward sloping angle. The ears, brow ridge, and nose are rendered as a single fluid element whose form echoes the configuration of the horns above it. The eyes appear as lozenge-shaped forms in low relief and the mouth, its corners curving upwards in an expression resembling a smile, is shown at the base of the piece at the end of a short, flattened snout.
Artwork Details
- Title: Architectural Ornament
- Date: Late19th–early 20th century
- Geography: Indonesia, Sumatra
- Culture: Toba Batak people
- Medium: Wood
- Dimensions: H. 27 in. (68.6 cm)
- Classification: Wood-Architectural
- Credit Line: Gift of Fred and Rita Richman, 2013
- Object Number: 2013.1137.16
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
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Toba Batak artist(s)
19th–20th century
Ono Niha artist
19th century
Toba Batak artist
19th–early 20th century
Toba Batak people
19th–early 20th century
Toba Batak artist
late 19th–early 20th century
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