Art Of Asia – Antiquity To Present Day

Historically, the Batak tribe of modern-day Indonesia believed a shaman could harness both white and black magic. Each shaman would craft a staff to channel their abilities. One such staff from the Batak people is highlighted in the upcoming Art of Asia auction, presented by Artemis Gallery. Human and animal effigies line the piece, with pink cabochons indicating each figure’s eyes. Horsehair weaves across the top. Several rituals were believed necessary to activate the staff’s power, including the sacrifice of someone from an enemy village.

Collectors of ethnographic pieces will also find two Burmese figures representing the “Old Man” and the “Sick Man” in the story of Prince Siddhartha’s transformation into the Buddha. Buddhists believe that Siddhartha, having lived a life of royal privilege, encountered four people who helped him understand the nature of suffering. The first was the “Old Man.” This Burmese depiction of the “Old Man” has a sunken chest, veins pushing toward the skin’s surface, and visible ribs. The second person Siddhartha saw was the “Sick Man.” The available figure shows the man leaning on his staff for support. His ribcage and collarbones are visible, and he wears a piece of cloth wrapped around his waist. Both of these pieces are carved from wood and date back to the late 19th or early 20th century. 

Those interested in Japanese culture can consider a set of samurai armor from the Edo period. Included are shoulder and waist panels, a helmet, and chest armor, among other pieces. Decorating the chest plate is a red circle with three inward-pointing branches. Register to bid and view each lot on LiveAuctioneers.