Material: Bark, ink, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Cover: Height 30 cm, Width 18.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASBB1

Portrait of a datu with divination book, medicine horn and magic staff, photographer unknown, 1929/1929. From the collection of the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

These exotic books are called pustaha by the Bataks. They were written on bark with wooden covers by the Batak datu.  There are 5 Batak languages with 3 sub-groups, but the script of each is similar.

They are actually made from the bast of the alim tree, which is removed in long strips, smoothed and covered with rice flour paste. The strips are cut and folded into a concertina. The two ends are glued to the wooden covers. The ink is made from several resins and boiled and applied with a pen made from bamboo or buffalo horn or sugar palm leaf.

The content may be religious or non-religious, but usually contains magic cures, medicinal recipes, how to make protective amulets, black magic, fortune telling, astrology and instructions on how to carry out rituals. They are shorthand notes for the datu for his own use and notes dictated to his pupils. This explains the abrupt and fragmentary character of many texts.

There are calendars in the books. The year is 12 months. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. There are no weeks. The calendar is used to determine auspicious days for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married.

The pustaha are no longer used and not many exist outside private collections.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Batak Book 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bark, ink, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Cover: Height 19.5 cm, Width 12.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASBB2

Portrait of a datu with divination book, medicine horn and magic staff, photographer unknown, 1929/1929. From the collection of the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

These exotic books are called pustaha by the Bataks. They were written on bark with wooden covers by the Batak datu.  There are 5 Batak languages with 3 sub-groups, but the script of each is similar.

They are actually made from the bast of the alim tree, which is removed in long strips, smoothed and covered with rice flour paste. The strips are cut and folded into a concertina. The two ends are glued to the wooden covers. The ink is made from several resins and boiled and applied with a pen made from bamboo or buffalo horn or sugar palm leaf.

The content may be religious or non-religious, but usually contains magic cures, medicinal recipes, how to make protective amulets, black magic, fortune telling, astrology and instructions on how to carry out rituals. They are shorthand notes for the datu for his own use and notes dictated to his pupils. This explains the abrupt and fragmentary character of many texts.

There are calendars in the books. The year is 12 months. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. There are no weeks. The calendar is used to determine auspicious days for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married. The Karo Batak particularly, who did not convert to Christianity or Islam, still consult it.

The pustaha are no longer used and not many exist outside private collections.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Batak Book 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bark, ink, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Cover: Height 20 cm, Width 13 cm
Order Number: MHSASBB3

Portrait of a datu with divination book, medicine horn and magic staff, photographer unknown, 1929/1929. From the collection of the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

These exotic books are called pustaha by the Bataks. They were written on bark with wooden covers by the Batak datu.  There are 5 Batak languages with 3 sub-groups, but the script of each is similar.

They are actually made from the bast of the alim tree, which is removed in long strips, smoothed and covered with rice flour paste. The strips are cut and folded into a concertina. The two ends are glued to the wooden covers. The ink is made from several resins and boiled and applied with a pen made from bamboo or buffalo horn or sugar palm leaf.

The content may be religious or non-religious, but usually contains magic cures, medicinal recipes, how to make protective amulets, black magic, fortune telling, astrology and instructions on how to carry out rituals. They are shorthand notes for the datu for his own use and notes dictated to his pupils. This explains the abrupt and fragmentary character of many texts.

There are calendars in the books. The year is 12 months. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. There are no weeks. The calendar is used to determine auspicious days for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married. The Karo Batak particularly, who did not convert to Christianity or Islam, still consult it.

The pustaha are no longer used and not many exist outside private collections.

Map of Sumatra.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Batak Book 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bark, ink, rattan, bamboo cover
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Cover: Height 7.5 cm, Width 5 cm
Order Number: MHSASBB4

This is the tiniest, cutest  Batak book I’ve ever seen. It’s got a woven rattan strap. About half the pages on one side are blank, indicating it was finished – or perhaps a work in progress. This is exceedingly rare. It has a great patina.

Portrait of a datu with divination book, medicine horn and magic staff, photographer unknown, 1929/1929. From the collection of the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

These exotic books are called pustaha by the Bataks. They were written on bark with wooden covers by the Batak datu.  There are 5 Batak languages with 3 sub-groups, but the script of each is similar.

They are actually made from the bast of the alim tree, which is removed in long strips, smoothed and covered with rice flour paste. The strips are cut and folded into a concertina. The two ends are glued to the wooden covers. The ink is made from several resins and boiled and applied with a pen made from bamboo or buffalo horn or sugar palm leaf.

The content may be religious or non-religious, but usually contains magic cures, medicinal recipes, how to make protective amulets, black magic, fortune telling, astrology and instructions on how to carry out rituals. They are shorthand notes for the datu for his own use and notes dictated to his pupils. This explains the abrupt and fragmentary character of many texts.

There are calendars in the books. The year is 12 months. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. There are no weeks. The calendar is used to determine auspicious days for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married. The Karo Batak particularly, who did not convert to Christianity or Islam, still consult it.

The pustaha are no longer used and not many exist outside private collections.

Map of Sumatra.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Batak Book 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bark, ink, rattan
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Cover: Length 17 cm, Width 16.5 cm (carved on one side); 44 pages
Order Number: MHSASBB5

Portrait of a datu with divination book, medicine horn and magic staff, photographer unknown, 1929/1929. From the collection of the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

These exotic books are called pustaha by the Bataks. They were written on bark with wooden covers by the Batak datu.  There are 5 Batak languages with 3 sub-groups, but the script of each is similar.

They are actually made from the bast of the alim tree, which is removed in long strips, smoothed and covered with rice flour paste. The strips are cut and folded into a concertina. The two ends are glued to the wooden covers. The ink is made from several resins and boiled and applied with a pen made from bamboo or buffalo horn or sugar palm leaf.

The content may be religious or non-religious, but usually contains magic cures, medicinal recipes, how to make protective amulets, black magic, fortune telling, astrology and instructions on how to carry out rituals. They are shorthand notes for the datu for his own use and notes dictated to his pupils. This explains the abrupt and fragmentary character of many texts.

There are calendars in the books. The year is 12 months. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. There are no weeks. The calendar is used to determine auspicious days for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married. The Karo Batak particularly, who did not convert to Christianity or Islam, still consult it.

The pustaha are no longer used and not many exist outside private collections.

Map of Sumatra.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Batak Book 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Length 48 cm, Width 12 cm, Depth 1.75 cm
Order Number: MHSASBC1

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

The Batak datu priests use calendars. The year is 12 months, each with 30 days. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. Every day has its own name. There are no weeks. The calendar has signs, mostly in a regular pattern,  indicating auspicious and dangerous days. The auspicious days indicate a good time for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married. The Karo Batak particularly, who did not convert to Christianity or Islam, still consult it.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Batak Calendar 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Length 47.5 cm, Width 10.5 cm, Depth 1 cm
Order Number: MHSASBC2

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

The Batak datu priests use calendars. The year is 12 months, each with 30 days. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. Every day has its own name. There are no weeks. The calendar has signs, mostly in a regular pattern,  indicating auspicious and dangerous days. The auspicious days indicate a good time for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married. The Karo Batak particularly, who did not convert to Christianity or Islam, still consult it.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Batak Calendar 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Pot: Diameter 13 cm, Stopper: Height 15 cm, Width 7 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC4

Ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man riding a mythological animal, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in medicine containers. They often use hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a greenish celadon glaze or blue under-glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early-mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 18.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC2

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 14.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC3

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 11.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC4

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 9.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC5

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 137 cm, Width 5  cm
Order Number: MHSASSS1

Known as Tunggal Malehat or Tunggal Panaluan, the shaman’s staff displays pure, refined, ancient Batak iconography.

Shamans use the staff in rituals to ward off evil spirits, enemies, thieves and bandits from the village, and to start and end rain.

It is his most important ritual object. They often use a special wood.

They are all carved individually and display an enormous variety of styles.

The simplest show a single figure standing or squatting. More complicated ones have many human figures arranged one of top of another. Between the figures are animals. The top figure is usually a male and the largest. Below him is a smaller female standing or sitting. The sex of the other figures is usually unclear.

The carvings represent a Batik myth. Incestuous twins from a village were punished by being made into part of a tree. Priests called in to help failed and were also made part of the tree. It was finally determined that  wood from the tree would  protect the village. To obtain some of this power shamans (datu) carved staffs resembling the tree. 

Staffs are about 6 feet long. The two uppermost figures represent the twins. The others represent the priests who failed. A powerful substance called pupuk is inserted into holes along the length of the stick by the shaman to bring it to life. They are closed up with resin or a wooden plug.

It is cruel. Pupuk reanimates the spirits of the dead. To make the pupuk, the datu kidnaps a male baby from the enemy’s village. He raises the child to becomes obedient. Then the datu  tells the child to drink boiling molten tin. The child dies immediately and his body is chopped up and mixed with the flesh of animals. The mixture is then left to putrefy. Liquid oozes out and is put in a guri-guri (a cup). The leftover material is burned until it becomes ash. This ash is known as pupuk.

Pupuk is also used to animate the ancestral statues (debata idup) placed around the village to protect it.

The magical properties of the staff become live and dangerous, so the staff is hung under the eaves or has a little house of its own. At ceremonies it is given offerings and the blood of sacrificed animals. The shaman dances in trance with the staff and spits betel juice on it and uses it to ascertain auspicious days and to tell the future.

A rich brown patina covers the entire staff.

Map of Sumatra.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Shaman’s Staff 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 114 cm, Width of head 3  cm
Order Number: MHSASSS2

Known as Tunggal Malehat or Tunggal Panaluan, the shaman’s staff displays pure, refined, ancient Batak iconography.

Shamans use the staff in rituals to ward off evil spirits, enemies, thieves and bandits from the village, and to start and end rain.

It is his most important ritual object. They often use a special wood.

They are all carved individually and display an enormous variety of styles.

The simplest show a single figure standing or squatting. More complicated ones have many human figures arranged one of top of another. Between the figures are animals. The top figure is usually a male and the largest. Below him is a smaller female standing or sitting. The sex of the other figures is usually unclear.

The carvings represent a Batik myth. Incestuous twins from a village were punished by being made into part of a tree. Priests called in to help failed and were also made part of the tree. It was finally determined that  wood from the tree would  protect the village. To obtain some of this power shamans (datu) carved staffs resembling the tree. 

Staffs are about 6 feet long. The two uppermost figures represent the twins. The others represent the priests who failed. A powerful substance called pupuk is inserted into holes along the length of the stick by the shaman to bring it to life. They are closed up with resin or a wooden plug.

It is cruel. Pupuk reanimates the spirits of the dead. To make the pupuk, the datu kidnaps a male baby from the enemy’s village. He raises the child to becomes obedient. Then the datu  tells the child to drink boiling molten tin. The child dies immediately and his body is chopped up and mixed with the flesh of animals. The mixture is then left to putrefy. Liquid oozes out and is put in a guri-guri (a cup). The leftover material is burned until it becomes ash. This ash is known as pupuk.

Pupuk is also used to animate the ancestral statues (debata idup) placed around the village to protect it.

The magical properties of the staff become live and dangerous, so the staff is hung under the eaves or has a little house of its own. At ceremonies it is given offerings and the blood of sacrificed animals. The shaman dances in trance with the staff and spits betel juice on it and uses it to ascertain auspicious days and to tell the future.

A rich brown patina covers the entire staff.

Map of Sumatra.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Shaman’s Staff 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, fibre
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 175 cm, Width of head 8  cm
Order Number: MHSASSS3

Known as Tunggal Malehat or Tunggal Panaluan, the shaman’s staff displays pure, refined, ancient Batak iconography.

Shamans use the staff in rituals to ward off evil spirits, enemies, thieves and bandits from the village, and to start and end rain.

It is his most important ritual object. They often use a special wood.

They are all carved individually and display an enormous variety of styles.

The simplest show a single figure standing or squatting. More complicated ones have many human figures arranged one of top of another. Between the figures are animals. The top figure is usually a male and the largest. Below him is a smaller female standing or sitting. The sex of the other figures is usually unclear.

The carvings represent a Batik myth. Incestuous twins from a village were punished by being made into part of a tree. Priests called in to help failed and were also made part of the tree. It was finally determined that  wood from the tree would  protect the village. To obtain some of this power shamans (datu) carved staffs resembling the tree. 

Staffs are about 6 feet long. The two uppermost figures represent the twins. The others represent the priests who failed. A powerful substance called pupuk is inserted into holes along the length of the stick by the shaman to bring it to life. They are closed up with resin or a wooden plug.

It is cruel. Pupuk reanimates the spirits of the dead. To make the pupuk, the datu kidnaps a male baby from the enemy’s village. He raises the child to becomes obedient. Then the datu  tells the child to drink boiling molten tin. The child dies immediately and his body is chopped up and mixed with the flesh of animals. The mixture is then left to putrefy. Liquid oozes out and is put in a guri-guri (a cup). The leftover material is burned until it becomes ash. This ash is known as pupuk.

Pupuk is also used to animate the ancestral statues (debata idup) placed around the village to protect it.

The magical properties of the staff become live and dangerous, so the staff is hung under the eaves or has a little house of its own. At ceremonies it is given offerings and the blood of sacrificed animals. The shaman dances in trance with the staff and spits betel juice on it and uses it to ascertain auspicious days and to tell the future.

A rich brown patina covers the entire staff.

Map of Sumatra.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Shaman’s Staff 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, fibre
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 150 cm (not including headdress),  162 cm (including headdress), Width of head 6  cm
Order Number: MHSASSS4

Known as Tunggal Malehat or Tunggal Panaluan, the shaman’s staff displays pure, refined, ancient Batak iconography.

Shamans use the staff in rituals to ward off evil spirits, enemies, thieves and bandits from the village, and to start and end rain.

It is his most important ritual object. They often use a special wood.

They are all carved individually and display an enormous variety of styles.

The simplest show a single figure standing or squatting. More complicated ones have many human figures arranged one of top of another. Between the figures are animals. The top figure is usually a male and the largest. Below him is a smaller female standing or sitting. The sex of the other figures is usually unclear.

The carvings represent a Batik myth. Incestuous twins from a village were punished by being made into part of a tree. Priests called in to help failed and were also made part of the tree. It was finally determined that  wood from the tree would  protect the village. To obtain some of this power shamans (datu) carved staffs resembling the tree. 

Staffs are about 6 feet long. The two uppermost figures represent the twins. The others represent the priests who failed. A powerful substance called pupuk is inserted into holes along the length of the stick by the shaman to bring it to life. They are closed up with resin or a wooden plug.

It is cruel. Pupuk reanimates the spirits of the dead. To make the pupuk, the datu kidnaps a male baby from the enemy’s village. He raises the child to becomes obedient. Then the datu  tells the child to drink boiling molten tin. The child dies immediately and his body is chopped up and mixed with the flesh of animals. The mixture is then left to putrefy. Liquid oozes out and is put in a guri-guri (a cup). The leftover material is burned until it becomes ash. This ash is known as pupuk.

Pupuk is also used to animate the ancestral statues (debata idup) placed around the village to protect it.

The magical properties of the staff become live and dangerous, so the staff is hung under the eaves or has a little house of its own. At ceremonies it is given offerings and the blood of sacrificed animals. The shaman dances in trance with the staff and spits betel juice on it and uses it to ascertain auspicious days and to tell the future.

A rich brown patina covers the entire staff.

In this case a man is riding a mythological animal, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.

Map of Sumatra.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Shaman’s Staff 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bamboo, wood
Style: Karo Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 18 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC3

This tall container called a tagan is made of finely etched bamboo and a carved, domed wooden stopper. The Karo Batak people of North Sumatra used them to hold powdered lime for the betel quid. Betel chewing was widespread among the Batak.  It is now mainly chewed by older people – usually women.

The lime was made by burning seashells and coral and then grinding them to a powder. The container has a good patina showing its use and age.

There is an example in Art of Island Southeast Asia, The Fred and Rita Richman Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art,  Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.), Florina H. Capistrano-Baker, 1994, page 132.

There is also one in The Batak, Peoples of the Island of Sumatra, Achim Sibeth, Thames and Hudson, 1991, page 155.

19th – early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

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Material: Bamboo, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 25 cm, Diameter 6.5 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC1

Medicine container, etched with geometric motifs, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man riding a mythological animal, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in medicine containers. They often use hollow bamboo tubes and the open end is stopped with a wooden plug, the top being usually carved in the shape of a human figure.

The medicine containers were carried by a cord attached to the man’s belt or over his shoulder.

Early – mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Old Sumatran Medicine Container 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bamboo, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 34 cm, Diameter 7 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC2

Medicine container, etched with geometric motifs, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man sitting on top of the head of another man with a large face.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in medicine containers. They often use hollow bamboo tubes and the open end is stopped with a wooden plug, the top being usually carved in the shape of a human figure.

The medicine containers were carried by a cord attached to the man’s belt or over his shoulder.

Early – mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Old Sumatran Medicine Container 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Horn
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height5.25 cm, Diameter 5.5 cm, Depth 3.5 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC3

Medicine container, etched with geometric motifs, with superbly carved  stopper with a powerful singa (lion) head and upper part of the body and four men on its back in a procession, the datu or priest at the front.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. The medicine containers were carried by a cord attached to the man’s belt or over his shoulder.

There are examples in The Batak, Peoples of the Island of Sumatra, Achim Sibeth, Thames and Hudson, 1991, page 142.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

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