A Rare Ancestor Bird Figure from the Iban Dayak people's of Sarawak , Borneo
A Rare Ancestor Bird Figure from the Iban Dayak people’s of Sarawak , Borneo . Carved and painted wood
Late 19 th – Early 20 th Century
Size : 39 cm high , 58.5 cm wide – 15 ½ ins high , 23 ins wide
Late 19 th – Early 20 th Century
Size : 39 cm high , 58.5 cm wide – 15 ½ ins high , 23 ins wide
Great Hornbills have enormous down curved bills usually surmounted by a grotesque horney casque and can measure up to 5 feet long . They are not beautiful birds but are intriguing , fascinating and amazing in their unique habits . They mate for life and are often regarded as symbols of purity and fidelity .
The Dayak regard the great hornbill as related to the soul and the ancestral spirit world . These carefully carved wooden bird figures were displayed in festivals honouring the God of war and at celebrations of successful head hunting .
The Dayak regard the great hornbill as related to the soul and the ancestral spirit world . These carefully carved wooden bird figures were displayed in festivals honouring the God of war and at celebrations of successful head hunting .
A Rare Ancestor Bird Figure from the Iban Dayak people's of Sarawak , Borneo
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