Shaman's Box (Lupong Manang)
Mark A. Johnson Tribal Art
A ritual container used by a shaman or healer "Manang" for holding divinatory objects. These objects might include small figurative
charms, special stones, roots, herbs, teeth, bones, quills, and glass bottles. Novice shamans would normally have a simple container,
but older, more experienced shamans often own containers with two or more attached wood figures, representing male and female pairs.
Some boxes have a figure on the lid, similar to this example. The containers themselves have their own ritual energy, requiring a major
rite to be performed when they are made and included into the shaman's ritual possessions. On the death of the shaman, the container is kept with the family and may be passed down to a son (or daughter) who is willing to take up the calling.
See: Iban Art, Sexual Selection and Severed Heads, by Michael Heppell, et al., pages 154 to 156.
charms, special stones, roots, herbs, teeth, bones, quills, and glass bottles. Novice shamans would normally have a simple container,
but older, more experienced shamans often own containers with two or more attached wood figures, representing male and female pairs.
Some boxes have a figure on the lid, similar to this example. The containers themselves have their own ritual energy, requiring a major
rite to be performed when they are made and included into the shaman's ritual possessions. On the death of the shaman, the container is kept with the family and may be passed down to a son (or daughter) who is willing to take up the calling.
See: Iban Art, Sexual Selection and Severed Heads, by Michael Heppell, et al., pages 154 to 156.
Wood, bark, rattan, porcelain chips, pigments.
$3,500.00
Artwork details
Origin
Iban Dayak. Sarawak State (possibly Skrang River area), Borneo Island, Malaysia.
Dimension
H 9.75IN x DIA 7IN
H 24.765CM x DIA 17.78CM
Provenance
Ex: Fred Smit collection, ex: Gallery Lemaire (1981).
Condition
Very good condition.
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