Title
'Penji' memorial grave marker
late 19th century
Artists
Unknown Artist
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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East Sumba
→
Sumba
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East Nusa Tenggara
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Lesser Sunda Islands
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Indonesia
- Date
- late 19th century
- Media categories
- Ceremonial object , Sculpture
- Materials used
- stone
- Dimensions
- 220.0 x 65.0 x 20.0 cm
- Credit
- Gift of Nomadic Rug Traders 2006
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 378.2006
- Copyright
- Share
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About
East Sumbanese tombs consist of a horizontal dolmen structure ('reti') and vertical grave markers ('penji'). The sculptural motifs on a 'penji' commemorate the life and achievements of the deceased. On the side of this sculpture is a weaver at her loom and a hunting scene. A snake and the potent mamuli design appear on the front. Mamuli are ritual objects invested with the capacity to mediate between the human world and realm of ancestral spirits. Invoking the form of the female generative organ, the motif is a powerful fertility symbol. A powerful crocodile crowns the penji stone.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, 2006.
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Bibliography
Referenced in 1 publication
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Nomadic Rug Traders (Editor), Newsletter, Sydney, 2006, 1(colour illus.). The colour illus. on page 1 is a detail showing the weaver at her loom.
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