Ancestor figure - Mahafaly - Madagascar

AL137 Ancestral figure, totem of the Mahafaly AloAlo. 1965, 167 x 13 x 6 cm, 2.75 kg, Atandroy warrior
All Malagasy people maintain a pronounced ancestor cult, whose origin is to be found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. One still sees the soul of the deceased (Razana) as part of the social community, which in various stages enters into unity with the creator god (Zanahary). This, in turn, is connected to the universe. People seek protection, counsel, and strength from the ancestors and fear their wrath. Accordingly, there are, depending on the ethnic group, different burial cultures. The Mahafaly, in contrast to the tiny wooden houses, raise generous stone tombs, which are lavishly built according to the status of the deceased. The burial sites are always located outside the living areas. A burial house in the middle, filled with the deceased’s possessions, houses the prepared deceased in a tree coffin. The construction of the grave and the burial ceremony can take months.
The commissioned workers are fed, and the skulls of the sacrificed zebus are distributed on the grave. The grave paintings refer to the daily life or wishes and dreams of the deceased. An important component of the rite are the ALOALO stelae, always produced as commissioned works by certified carvers. They depict in the upper part important stages from the life of the deceased, his fantasies and experiences, often also the revered zebu cattle. As bearer of life and the universe, the lower part usually features women but also significant figures such as shamans, clan chiefs, and mythical beings. This artistic universe is connected with astrological symbols such as crescents, stars, and ornaments. The Mahafaly allow the dead to rest, in contrast to other regions; Razana maintains contact with earthly life through mirrors set into the grave. Thus the Mahafaly graves are left to themselves and decay over decades.
This sculpture has, in addition to the usual stake foot embedded in the ground, seven ornamental fragment patterns with the typical astrological signs like crescents and stars. On the headpiece there is one warrior, who originally still had a spear slung, but this has either been worn away by a revolutionary upheaval or simply by the tooth of time.
The hardwood used, Menabe, is not rotten or brittle on the inside! However, due to exposure on the surface, it is heavily weathered, oxidized, and covered with dust patina. Location: Tulear region, Kilimasy.
The genuine AloAlo are a rare artistic treasure, because the ancestor cult, which originates from Papua New Guinea, worldwide found its physical expression only in Madagascar in these stelae. The export of cultural property/antiques is strictly limited in Madagascar. Our old originals have been in family ownership since 1975 and, due to rising collector value, also represent a fruitful investment. (Reference book "Arts Anciens de Madagascar" p.268)
This object can be shipped by parcel service.