This introduction and following series of related posts on shamanism serve as an online version of our 2017 fall exhibition, ‘Balancing The Universe: Shamanic Amulets, Instruments and Costumes’. We also have a full color photo catalog available of the all the pieces in the show and 12 color postcards of selected pieces. Scroll down to see catalog and cards at end of this post.
You have likely heard the term ‘Shaman’, but who were – or, are they? Shamanism is an intriguing phenomenon.
Since the beginning of humanity, there has been a need to cure the ailing, and to integrate the physical and spiritual worlds. This universal need gave rise to the art of healing or, ‘Shamanism’. A shaman is a highly trained and disciplined, man or woman, who can enter the spirit world at will to communicate with and influence spirits in service to their community. They have been the keepers of knowledge, the healers, the priests, and the philosophers in virtually all societies around the globe.
Animism, the belief that all things have souls, is another globally shared phenomenon and forms the spiritual origins of the rituals and traditions that most of us in the modern western world see as mysterious. But what is art, science or religion without mystery? Art and spirit converge in this show to take you on a journey into the inspiring and enlightening unknown.
All shaman have a unique repertoire of amulets, instruments, and costumes essential to their own culture. This exhibition includes a wide range of spiritual artifacts personally collected by David Bardwick over the last fifteen years from Nepal, Nagaland and Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, and across the Indonesian Islands.
Shamanism is a matter of curiosity for those unfamiliar with its conventions, but it endures as a universal healing method and path to the spirit world which are integral parts of daily life for billions of people around the world
Exhibition Catalog from the Balancing The Universe: Shamanic Amulets, Instruments and Costume. A full color, 72 page catalog of almost all of the Shaman objects in the exhibition. $14. 12 color postcards for $12. Selected shaman pieces from the Balancing The Universe exhibition.
Timor, like Flores is more mountainous than the rolling hills of Sumba, but the shamanic culture is much the same. Both islands are now predominantly christian, although, like most of the cultures throughout the Lesser Sunda Islands, they have integrated the newer belief systems with their ancient roots in Animism. (for several neighboring Lesser Sunda Islands see the following post)
‘Katoda’ – God Effigy, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Stone
Shaman would pray to a Katoda to predict natural disasters. 19” x 5 ½” x 6 ½”, $1600.
Shaman’s Ritual Figure, Timor Island, Sunda Island, Indonesia, Niki Niki village Early 20th c, Wood, fiber cord, shell
Used by shaman to treat people as well as for other traditional rituals. 21” x 7 ½” x 6 ½”, $1400. SOLD
‘Seer’ or Divining Talisman/Fetish, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Late 19th c, Stone, pigment, European Glass seed beads
The inlaid ‘white heart’ beads were particularly desirable. Used in healing ceremonies to ‘See’ – or locate, lost items and to determine the appropriate day and time for performing each ceremony. 6” x 2 ½” x 5”, $550. (see companion ‘seer’ in image below)
Divining Amulet/Fetish, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Late 19th c, Stone, pigment, European Glass seed beads, 5 ¼” x 1 ¾” x 2 ¼”, $400.Ancestral Offering Statue, Indonesia, Timor Island, Boti village, Mid 20th century, Wood
This totem-like carving of many ancestor effigies is used by shamans in contacting spirits and healing rituals. 11 ½” x 4” x 3 ½”, SOLD
Ancestral Offering Figures, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Anakalang tribe, Early to mid 20th c, Wood
Used by shaman for healing rituals. (left, male fig – 8 ½” x 5” x 3 ½”); (right female fig -9” x 4 ¾” x 4”), $875. (sold as pair)
Magic (Female) Effigy, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Niki Niki village, Early 20th c, Wood
Used for healing treatments. 10 ¾” x 8 ½” x 10”, $285.
Healing Figures, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Mid to late 19th c. Stone
Used in healing rituals. (left – late 19th c, 3 ¾” x 2 ¾” x 3 ¼”, SOLD); (right – mid 19th c, 3 ¾” x 2 ¾” x 3 ¼”, SOLD)
Shaman Healing Amulet/Talismans, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Wood
Used in healing rituals, (left – 3 ½” x 1 ½” x 4”, $80.); (right – 3 ¾” x 1 ¾” x 3 ½”, $100.)
Shaman Healing Amulet/Talismans, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Wood
Used in healing rituals, (left – 4 ¼” x 1” x 3 ½”, $65.); (right – 3 ¼” x 1 ¼” x 4”, $80.)
Shaman Healing Amulets, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Mid 20th c, Wood
Used in healing rituals. Dimensions left to right: (left – 3 1 /2” x 1 ¼” x 1 ½”, $70.); (left middle -2 ¾” x 1” x 1″, SOLD); (right middle – ~3 x 2); (right – 2 ½” x 1” x 1″, SOLD)
Shaman Medicine Mortar (rare), Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Wood
Preparing medicines using a pestle to grind, 10 ¾” x 4” x 4 ½”, $425.
Shaman Healing Medicine Container Necklace, Alor Island, Timor Islands, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Mid 20th c, Wood, beads, shell (Telescopium telescopium, or Horn snail spire)
Used to hold medicine for healing rituals, 4 ½” x 1 ½” x 1 ¼”, $390.
Medicine Woman Effigy with Child (rare), Alor Island, Flores Islands, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Mid to late 20th c, Wood
Used for healing rituals, 10 ½” x 3 ½” x 2 ½”, SOLD
Shaman Figure (rare), Atauro Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c. Wood, cloth
Used to protect people from harmful spirits during rituals. Faded and patinated with use and age, original red color of cloth still visible. Dimensions: (left – 22 ½” 5 ½’ x 7 ½”, $1200.); (right – 25 ¼’ x 4 ¼” x 6 ½”, $1200.)
Shaman Amulet Necklace, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Ceramic stone figures and beads, shell, cotton
Worn by the shaman for healing ceremonies. 21” x 11” x 1 ¾”, $650.
Shaman Amulet Necklace, Timor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Ceramic stone figures and beads, shell, cotton
Worn by the shaman for healing ceremonies. 20 ½” x 11” x 1 ¾”, $650.
Shaman Healing Fetish, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Wood, fiber, metal nail
Kept in the shaman’s home. Covered in tiny holes from being pierced by its attached nail during rituals. Found in the ocean. 30” x 12” x 8”, SOLD
Shaman Talisman Figure, Wetar Island, Timor Islands, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Late 19th c, Wood, pigment, glass bead eyes
Used for healing rituals. 12 ½” x 4” x 4”, $430. SOLD
Shaman Healing Amulet/Talisman, Moluccas Islands, Lesser Sundas, Indonesia, Letti Village, Early 20th c, Wood
Flores, and Timor, are more mountainous than the rolling hills of Sumba, but the shamanic culture is much the same. Both islands are now predominantly christian, although, like most of the cultures throughout the Lesser Sunda Islands, they have integrated the newer belief systems with their ancient roots in Animism. (see Timor and several neighboring Lesser Sunda Islands in the following posts)
Volcano God Effigy (exceptionally rare), Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Manga Lewa Village, Mid 18th c, Stone, cloth
Used by shaman for predicting volcanic eruptions. Passed down through four generations. 15” x 5 ½ x 5 ¾”, SOLD
Shaman Healing Figures, Male, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Mid 20th c. Wood
One of the pair held in each hand during a ceremonial dance for healing a marriage. (female – 8” x 7 ¾” x 1”); (male – 8” x 8” x 1 ½”), $590. sold as pair
Magic Protection Figures, East Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Mid 20th c, Wood, bamboo, thread
Kept in household kitchen to protect the home. Dimensions: 10″ to 17″ tall; $135. to $225. (far left and far right SOLD)
Magic Talisman Figure, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Bajawa village, Mid 20th c, Wood
Used for healing rituals. 15 ½” x 6 ½” x 4”, $320.
‘Caci’, Ritual Fighting Whip, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Manggarai tribe, Early 20th c, Wood, rattan, bark
‘Caci’ is a powerful magic whip-fighting ritual performed during a harvest festival with complex ritual preparations. It is played by 2 men, usually from different villages. The Whip symbolizes the male phallus, the father and the sky. The shield used with it symbolizes the female, the womb and the earth. These elements are united when the whip hits the shield symbolizing life giving sexual unity. It is a playful event but any blood shed is considered an offering to the ancestors who will then ensure fertility of the land. 14” x 10” x 2 ½”, $520.
Effigy Figure, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Late 19th to early 20th c, Aggregate Stone
Used by shaman for healing and divination, 11” x 8” x 6”, sold
Shaman’s Effigy Figure, West Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Bena village, Early to mid 10th c, Stone
Used by shaman for healing and divination. 11 ½” x 7 ½” x 5 ½”, Sold
Shaman Figure, Central Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia Island, Japu village, Early 20th c, Stone, cloth strap
For protecting the clan house and for divination, 11” x 3 ½” x 5 ½”, $800.
Nitta Watu (rare), Kitchen Protector Figure – Shaman Power Object, West Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Maumere district, Nita or Bena Village, Early to mid 19th c, Stone, pigment, cloth strap for hanging
Used to protect a house or home. 14” x 5 ½” x 6”, $1700.
Magic House Protector, West Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early to mid 19th c, stone
Magic House Protector, West Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early to mid 19th c, stone, cloth strap, 19” x 5 ¾” x 4 ¼”, $1800.
group photo (above) of the 3 previous house protectors figuresNita Ina, Magic Figure, Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Maumere district, Nita Village, Late 19th to early 20th c, Tree bark, cloth, shell
Used for either ‘white’ or ‘black’ ritual magic (dark energy does not inhabit the figure itself) (male figure – 26 ½” x 14 ½” x 6 ½”,$1900.), (female figure – 23” x 10” x 5”, $1400.)
Sumba Island is part of the ‘The Lesser Sunda Islands’ – the long sweeping chain of islands south of Bali that make up the southern part of Indonesia. In the following posts we include items from Sumba, Flores, Timor, Lombok and a few others. There are many similarities in belief systems throughout the Lesser Sundas but the material culture is unique to each island.
Although the people of Sumba are now mostly of Christian or Muslim faith, their ancient Animistic belief system remain a powerful influence in daily life. This is reflected in the art and tools of shaman priests. Shaman are still a fundamental part of society, presiding over new building construction, births, deaths, marriages, mock wars and other cultural rituals and celebrations. Their blessings and protection rituals are essential to the well being of the community and the individual’s physical and spiritual health.
The tribal, hilltop villages which which consist of twelve to twenty to twenty stilt houses, are much the same as they were hundreds of years ago, as are most of the practices of everyday life. Sumba was one of the last islands to come under the control of the Indonesian government in the early 1970s, leaving the old culture mostly intact to this day.
Shaman Charms, West Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Lamboya village, Early 20th c, Wood
Healing charms used in rituals. The shaman figures and their container have become smooth with a darkened patina from use and age. 3 ½” x 2” x 2” (container); 1 ¼” x ¾’ x ½” (each figure), $375. SOLD
Shaman Effigy, Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Late 19th c, Stone, pigment, cloth
Used for healing and to protect shaman from ghost spirits, 6 ½” x 5 ½” x 5”, $725. (see image below of both the above shaman figures together)
additional view of Shaman Effigy and Shaman CharmsShaman Drum, Sumba Island, Indonesia, Early to mid 20th c, Animal skin stretched over wood
Used by shaman to initiate and maintain a trance state during rituals, 17 ½” x 10 ½’ x 10”, SOLD
Hunting Spirit Guide, West Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Kodi village. Early to mid 20th c. Wood
Spirit guide figure to pray to before hunting or fishing. This piece has a nice patina from age and use. 7” x 6 ½” x 16”, SOLD
Shaman Figure with Alligator, West Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Kodi tribe, Mid to late 19th c, Wood
Used for protection rituals. 19 ¾” x 4 ¼” x 4”, $750.
Magic Amulet/Talisman Figure, West Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Anakalang village, Mid 20th c, Wood
Magic amulet used for healing rituals. SOLD
Shaman Magic Amulet Male Figure, West Sumba, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Anakalang village, Early 20th c, Wood.
Used for healing rituals. 7 ¾” x 2 ½” x 5 ¼”, $180. SOLD
Magic Figure, Woman with Child, West Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Late 19th c, Stone
Used to heal and protect woman and child. 5 ½” 7” x 3 ¼”, $230. SOLD
Hanging Effigy and Herb Bowl – set, East Sumba Island, Indonesia, Soru village, Early 20th c, Wood
The effigy hanger gives great healing power to the herbs placed in the coconut bowl suspended below it. The bowl has three bird figure and three carved faces with an amulet head hanging below it. 30” x 6” x 6”, $1200.
Shaman Healing Couple Effigy, West Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Anakalang village, Early to mid 20th c, Wood, fiber cloth
Used in healing rituals and to fix marriages. Dimensions: (left, male: 5 ¼” x 3 ¼” x 2”); (right, female: 5” x 3” x 2”), $420. sold as a pair
Healing Amulet/Talisman, Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 19th c, Stone
Patinated with use and age, this figure was used in healing rituals. 6 ½” x 2 ½” x 2 ½”, $370.
Shaman Healing Amulet/Talisman – Cow, Octopus, Monkey, Bird, West Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Early 20th c, Wood
This is an unusual piece. It is multi-sided and combines several different animals which become recognizable as you turn the piece. This view show a monkey. Its feet are duck-like bird heads. If you flip the piece over, it persents as the head of a cow and of an octopus depending on the angle you view it. Used in healing rituals, 10” x 16” x 13”, $600. (see image below for another angle showing the cow/octopus)
Alternate view of previous image – Shaman Healing Amulet/Talisman – Cow, Octopus, Monkey, BirdFemale Shaman Effigy, Sumba Island, 17th century, Stone
For healing related to childbirth, 5” x 3 ¾” x 4”, SOLD
Shaman Magic Medicine Bottle Stopper, East Sumba Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Mid 19th c, Wood
Talisman figure with child, used empower the healing medicine in the bottle. 3” x 1 ¼” x 1 ¼”, $80. SOLD
Shaman Staff, Sumba, Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Mid 20th c, Wood
Used in healing rituals. 35 ½ x 2 ¼” x 1 ½”, $700.
Effigy Mask Trap, East Sumba, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Tana Mabanas village, Late 19th to early 20th c, Coconut, wood, pigment
Hangs in shaman’s house. Gathers and traps black magic. The shaman will then perform a ritual to disperse them and to keep them from returning. 9 ½” x 8” x 10 ¾”, $700. (see below image for side view) SOLD
