Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure
Bali or Sumatra
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
16,5 cm
200g

Brass figure depicting standing male figure wearing traditional headdress, with hands crossed in front of the lower part of the torso. The figure has retained traces of a silverplated finish. Indonesia has a rich range of fantastic traditional headwear, and going by the shape of the headdress, the figure could be either Sumatran or Balinese, with the latter being the more likely.

This piece is a gift from family members who acquired it at street market in Scotland, in the early 1990s.

Object
Style
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Silverplated brass figurine
Batak
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
13,5 cm
230g

Indonesian ancestor figures are usually carved in wood, so the bronze or brass variant are nearly always replicas made for ornamental purposes. The posture of this silverplated figure indicates that it's made in the style of the Batak people of Sumatra. The three main areas of brass production in Indonesia are Sumatra, Kalimantan and Bali. However, brass reproductions are stylewise not necessarily confined to the area of the original; Bali for instance will make copies of anything.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Seated ancestor figure
Moluccas
Indonesia
Silverplated brass or bronze
20th century
20,5 cm
514g

Silverplated figure from the Moluccas. The figure is clutching what appears to be a crocodile to his chest. The base is adorned with turtles and reptiles. The large nose of the figure is typical of Leti sculpture, however, the rest of the body less so. Due to the fluid migration of the Moluccas, it can be hard to assign one specific regional style to a figure. The silverplating is immaculate.

Purchased in 2015. The person I bought it from inherited the piece from an uncle, who purchased it in Borneo ca. 1985.

Object
Style
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure
Leti Island
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
11,5 cm
200g

The tapering torso, the seated pose, with the arms resting folded on the knees horizontally level with the shoulders, are all strong influencences from Leti island statuary. The prominent Leti nose however is missing. The erect genitals makes it a somewhat unorthodox ancestor depiction, so most likely a decorative piece with various Moluccan traits. The figure still retains a faint layer of the original silverplating.

Purchased at Copenhagen flea market in the early 1990es.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure
Moluccas
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
23 cm
675g

Ancestral Tiang Pagar or Rice Guardian figure. Cast in brass with faint traces of silverplating. Tiang Pagar figures would traditionally be mounted on a pole, and placed at each corner of a rice field to repel evil entities.
The figure's headdress somewhat resembles elements of the Javanese Makuta crown. Arms tugged in at the sides of the torso, with hands folded across chest in a Batak like pose. The abdominal area is ornamented with depictions of a woman with her legs spread, and a ship, both of which symbolises fertility.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
12 cm
250g

Compact piece of silverplated brass or bronze, depicting a boy with a frog on top of his head. It's hard to know what to make of this one. The hard edges on the rotund body seems Sumatran to me, whereas the protruding almond shaped eyes points to Sulawesi. Then again, the frog on the figure's head could be an allusion to the Bali folktale of Prince Putu Oka who volunteered to be turned into a frog in order to secure rain for his starving people (don't worry, eventually a girl falls in love with the frog, and he returns to his original human shape).

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Silverplated brass figurine
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
11,5 cm
300g

Seated figure with elevated arms, and animal facial features. I seriously have no idea what this is about.

Purchased in a Melbourne junkshop ca. 2009

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Seated ancestor figure
Moluccas
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
19 cm
623g

Seated female figure clutching her ankles. Silverplated brass in the style of a Moluccan ancestor figure. The base is adorned with people. In the Moluccas, it was a widely held belief that a human has both a physical body and an abstract "shadow", somewhat comparable to a soul or mind. The "shadow" was believed to persist after death, and wander around in the village for a few days. The Moluccan ancestor figures functioned as a sort of temporary vessel for the "shadows" of the deceased to inhabit, before they departed to the land of the dead.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Seated figure
Leti Island/Moluccas
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
15 cm
365g

Silverplated brass figure of female with ceremonial headdress seated in a typical Leti style pose; arms resting folded on the knees horizontally level with the shoulders. The facial profile is also Leti, especially the prominent nose.
Made its way into collection via ebay seller in Oregon.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Fertility figurine
Moluccas
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
15,5 cm
230g

Silverplated brass figure of standing female balancing an infant on her fingertips. The infant is in a squatted pose with arms tucked along side of body, hands folded across chest. The exposed breast and genitals along with the infant seems to indicate some sort of fertility element, although the overall purpose is probably purely decorative. Woman wearing rudimentary Makuta crown. Her facial features are Moluccan. Faint traces of original silverplating.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Religious figurine
Moluccas
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
Mid-20th century
23 cm
952g

Silverplated brass in the style of a Moluccan ancestor figure wearing a triangular pointed headdress. Seated male figure crouched position, hands clutched around his shins, positioned on top of a circular plinth decorated with a band of figures holding hands.
The previous owner was a Canadian who purchased the piece in Kathmandu in the 1960es.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Religious figurine
Sumba/Lesser Sunda Islands
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
Mid-20th century
30 cm
1395g

Silverplated brass female ancestor figure wearing a Makuta crown, croutched on top of decorated mount. Hands clutching her legs just below the knees. There's trace elements of both Batak, Dayak and Moluccan style in this piece. The original silverplating is almost gone.
The Indonesian ancestor figures are traditionally made out of wood, whereas the brass pieces seems to be exclusively decorative.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Religious figurine
Sumba/Lesser Sunda Islands
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
14,5 cm
185g

Silverplated brass figure of female with headdress standing on a turtle. The turtle could be the cosmic turtle Bedwang who carries the world on his back, in which case the female could symbolise something or other. Who knows? Maybe it's just a cruel woman torturing a turtle?

Object
Style
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Ancestor figure
Nias Island
Indonesia
Brass
20th century
16 cm
125g

Ornamental piece in the style of a Adu Zatua ancestor figure. The figure is wearing the traditional warrior feather headdress unique to the island of Nias off the west coast of Sumatra.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Fertility figure
Bali/Moluccas
Indonesia
Brass
20th century
13,5 cm
225g

The male part of a fertility couple, supposedly from Bali or Timor. The hands are flat, and positioned in an unusual forward pointing horizontal fix. Plain brass with a nice rich patina.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Fertility figure
Bali/Moluccas
Indonesia
Brass
20th century
14,5 cm
190g

The female counterpart to the male above. The same flat hands, but positioned in a sideways 45 degree downward angle. The facial profile looks Moluccan, although she's supposedly from Bali or Timor. Plain brass with a nice rich patina.

Object
Country
Style
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Fertility figurines
Indonesia
Kalimantan/Sulawesi
Brass
20th century
9 cm
100g each

Back in the day, before foreign religions rooted out the traditional animistic Indonesian beliefs, fertility figurines like these were brought to the home of a newly married couple to promote fruitfulness. Apparently this couple is from Kalimantan, but I've seen almost identical figurines described as being from Sulawesi. Ultimately they're probably another knock off from Bali (note how the horizontal hand positioning are similar to that of the couple above).

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
12 cm
315g

Woman resting on her knees wearing a traditional hat, touching her breast and ear. The back is adorned with a reptile. The hat looks a bit like a Minangkabau headdress from Western Sumatra. However the rest of the figure is rather crude, and quite atypical of anything, so probably the modern concoction of a Balinese brass workshop.

Object
Region
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure
Tanimbar/Bali
Indonesia
Brass
20th century
15 cm
285g

Small statue inspired by 1970es wooden ancestor statues from the village of Tumbu on Yamdena in the Tanimbar Islands.

This replica brass statue is probably cast on the island of Bali.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure
Indonesia
Silverplated brass
20th century
25 cm
420g

Silverplated figurine of tall slender person wearing a basket on his or her back. The figure is holding what appears to be a crocodile by the tail.
The mount is adorned with turtles and lizards, and almost identical to that of the Moluccan ancestor figure.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight
Manufacturer

Minifigure of Sigmund Freud
USA
Vinyl
2006
6 cm
20g
Jailbreak Toys

Handpainted vinyl figurine from the discontinued Oddfellows/Little Giants line. Little Giants were designed to introduce young kids to real heroes in a fun way. The full collection consisted of 20+ minifigures depicting scientists, artists, writers and revolutionaries.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Skeleton figure
Guatemala
Wood and paint
20th century
16 cm
56g

Dia De Los Muertos figure featuring movable arms and a glaring look. Hand carved from solid wood and painted by Quiche Mayan Indian artisans living in the highlands of Guatemala

Gifted to the collection by close friends after their trip to South America ca. 2004

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight
Manufacturer

Pig figurine
USA
Pewter
1980
4 cm
90g
Hudson Pewter

The running or jogging pig belongs to a series called 'The Piggies' issued by Hudson Pewter in 1980-1981. There's pigs rollerskating, playing golf, eating watermelon, whatever.

Hudson Pewter operated from the 1960es through to 2000. Hasper might be the name of the artist responsible for sculpting the pigs.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight
Artist
Manufacturer

Art figurine
USA
Pewter
1980
11 cm
185g
Philip Kraczkowski
Rawcliffe Pewter

A pewter cast sculpture by listed artist Philip Kraczkowski (1916 – 1996), who is probably best known for having designed the prototype for the action figure 'G.I. Joe' in 1963. The bulk of Kraczkowski's works mainly includes equestrian pieces in historical settings, and other pieces of Americana such as his series of golfers.

Rawcliffe Pewter was founded in 1903 but only started producing figurines and sculptures under its own name in 1974. The Rhode Island based company seized operating in 2013.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Tiki figure
Tahiti
Resin
late 20th century
14,5cm
220g

Tourist souvenir from Tahiti in the shape of a Tiki idol. Cast in resin and painted. The figure shows signicant wear and tear, plus a major repair.
The vast majority of Tahitian stauary depicts the god Ti'i. Originally these were made out of wood and placed on the top of canoe prows of double-hulled fighting canoes. Tahiti was one of the first places in the pacific to undergo massive change from western contact, and by the end of the 19th century, Tikis had become rare items due to the orders of all Tahitian Idols to be destroyed, at the request of English missionaries. Todays are produced exclusively for tourism purposes.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure of a drummer
India
Bronze
20th century
12cm
350g

Bronze figure of seated person playing the traditional Indian Dholak drum.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figurine of seated cow with jar
India
Brass
Early/mid 20th century
11 cm
227g

Old brass figurine depicting a seated cow holding a jar. The cow is wearing some sort of crown. I have no idea what this is about.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Brass figure of Krishna
India
Brass
20th century
4 cm
90g

Brass figure of Krishna, or rather the infant Krishna Laddoo Gopal. Identifiable by the footprint of Maharishi Bhrigu on his chest. The story goes as follows: A group of Maharishi once decided to find out which of their three gods Brahma, Shiva or Vishnu were the most eminent. So Maharishi Bhrigu was sent out to investigate. Lord Brahma was too busy reciting religious texts to himself, and wouldn't receive Bhrigu. Lord Shiva was busily engaged in lovemaking and could also not receive Bhrigu. Upon reaching Lord Vishnu's house, Bhrigu found Lord Vishnu asleep. Angry with it all Bhrigu gave Vishnu a hard kick in the chest, leaving the footprint referred to as 'Shri Vatsa'. Lord Vishnu woke up, inquired if Bhrigu had hurt his foot, and proceeded to give Bhrigu a foot massage. Bhrigu now regretted his egotistical outburst, asked for forgiveness, and declared Lord Vishnu to be the most eminent of all the gods.
For clarification purposes: Since Krishna is the incarnation of Vishnu, whatever relates to Vishnu relates to Krishna. Hare hare.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figurine of Hindu god
India
Brass
19th century
7 cm
80g

Brass figurine of Hannuman the monkey god. According to the seller this figurine is very old, and was found half buried in the exposed riverbed of the Ganges at low tide. There's still a fair bit of mud caked in the crevices to corroborate the story.

In Hindu astrology, Hanuman is worshipped as an astrological remedy to pacify the disastrous effects of a badly placed Saturn. This is done by preparing offerings made of urad dal, sesame oil or ghee.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Hindu deity
India
Rosewood
20th century
11 cm
110g

Wooden figure of Hindu Deity wearing a mukut and holding what appears to an axe.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight
Manufacturer

Airline advertising mascot
India
Plaster
1960es
11,5 cm
120g
Bandidevkar Compaper Crafts

The Air India Maharajah was first introduced in 1946. Although originally designed for the company’s letterhead, the Maharajah figure quickly became the mascot for Air-India’s advertising activities. The Maharajah figurines which were initially given to 1st Class (or Maharajah Class) passengers as a free gift, became enormously popular throughout Indian society. Often the figurines transcended the original purpose of promoting an airline, and instead became a symbol of hospitality; thus Maharajah figurines would greet visitors both in private homes, or at stores, restaurants, and offices.

Bandivdekar Compaper Crafts were just one of many companies producing Maharajah figurines. Not much is known about them, other than they operated out of both Poona and Bombay.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figurine of a drummer
India
Bronze
Late 20th/Early-21st century
6 cm
45g

Standing figure playing a drum. Although it appears to be cast using the dhokra technique, there's a fair few of these around, making it's most likely a replica of an older piece.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figure of woman carrying a basket on her head
India
Bronze
20th century
8 cm
60g

Standing figurine depicting a woman carrying a basket on her head. Holes through both her feet seems to indicate that she might have been mounted on something.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight
Manufacturer

Museum replica of ancient statue
Iraq/China
Bronze
20th century
11 cm
285g
De Agostini

Replica of one of the Louvre's 11 Gudea statues excavated at the ancient Sumerian city of Girsu (present-day Telloh, Iraq). The original statue is 45 cm. tall, and depicts Gudea in the seated pose of a ruler before his subjects, his hands folded in a traditional gesture of greeting and prayer. It belongs to a series of diorite statues commissioned by Gudea, who devoted considerable amounts of energy to rebuilding the great temples of Lagash and installing statues of himself in them. Many of the statues, like this one, carries cuneiform inscriptions with Gudea's name and divine dedications.

Gudea was the ruler of the Sumerian city state Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia c. 2144–2124 BC. Under Gudea, Lagash enjoyed a golden age, accomplishing great advances both in social reforms, construction, trade, art and literature.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Figurine of seated man wearing a turban
Turkey
Brass
Mid/Late 20th century
10 cm
295g

Seated man with prayer beads. Loose part of a bigger tablepiece, possibly a penholder. Originally the figure would have been seated on a either a brass or a marble mount in the shape of a prayer rug, reading an oversized Koran. The mount usually has a groove in one side, maybe for pens or cigarettes? There's heaps of these around, but usually always (like this one) with the mount missing.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Medicine Buddha statuette
Nepal
Silverplated brass
20th century
7 cm
64g

As indicated by the medicine jar in his left hand, this is not
the Buddha (Siddhārtha), but rather the Medicine Buddha (Bhaiṣajyaguru). Having a Medicine Buddha figure in your house is a very powerful method for healing and increasing healing powers both for oneself and other family members. It's also great for overcoming the inner ailments of attachment, hatred, and ignorance.
If you don't have a Medicine Buddha figurine, and you do happen to get the sniffles, don't worry; merely recite the Medicine Buddha mantra ("By this practice of Medicine Buddha, may I be purified of all disease, pain, and suffering, and enjoy robust good health, and attain complete and perfect enlightenment to lead all other beings to this same state") 108 times over a glass of water, drink the water and repeat the procedure each day until the illness is cured.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight
Manufacturer

Glow-in-the-dark Kodama figure
Japan
Flourescent resin
2010s
4 cm
5g
Ghibli Studios

Small glow-in-the-dark figure of a forest creature from the Princess Mononoke anime film.

According to Japanese folklore Kodama are spirits that inhabit trees. The term is also used to denote a tree in which a kodama supposedly resides. The knowledge of trees that have kodama living in them is passed down by the elderly over successive generations in order to protect the kodama. In modern times, cutting down a tree which houses a kodama is thought to bring misfortune and such trees are often marked with ritual rope.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Kuman Thong Amulet
Thailand
Bronze
21st century
4 cm
30g

Kuman Thong (Golden Boy) is a household divinity of Thai folk religion. It is believed to bring luck and fortune to the owner if properly revered. This means offering it food and drink (for some reason Red Fanta seems to be the go). Just like a real child the Kuman Thong needs attention. He needs to be acknowledged regularly, and he likes being played with. In return he brings good luck and fortune. If not treated well the Kuman Thong can cause poltergeist-like activities, such as the opening and shutting of doors, phantom sounds of a child's laughter, or little footsteps running around.
The veneration of Kuman Thong is popular in Thailand due to the widespread belief in animism. Kuman Thongs originates from the practice of necromancy. Originally they were obtained from the desiccated bodies of stillborns and fetuses of children who had died whilst still in the womb. The body was roasted until dry and then painted with lacquer and gold leaf.
Fortunately this modern day Kuman Thong is made entirely of bronze.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Fertility amulet
Thailand
Brass
Late 20th/Early-21st century
3 cm
25g

Thai fertility amulet cast in brass. They produce these at an alarming rate.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Ai Khai figurine
Thailand
Iron alloy
Early-21st century
5 cm
43g

Legend has it that Ai Khai was a young novice monk ordered to look after the temple at Wat Chedi. Not long after that, Ai Khai died, and his spirit has lived there ever since as a guardian. Ai Khai's spirit always keeps an eye on the temple; whoever goes in without permission or breaks into to the compound to steal things will be frightened away by him.

Object
Country
Material
Period
Height
Weight

Phra Pidta Amulet
Thailand
Bronze
20th century
1 1/2 cm
12g

Phra Pidta in Thai translates into 'closed eyes Buddha/Monk'. The amulet depicts the symbolical image of a venerable monk in deep samadhi meditation. The Phra Pidta amulet helps warding off negative energy and protects the wearer from evil. It also brings luck, wealth and fortune.