Lot 197

19th C. Borneo Dayak Wood Hampatong Ancestor Figure

Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 197
image_0 image_1 image_2
19th C. Borneo Dayak Wood Hampatong Ancestor Figure
19th C. Borneo Dayak Wood Hampatong Ancestor Figure
image_0 image_1 image_2

19th C. Borneo Dayak Wood Hampatong Ancestor Figure

Estimate: $700 - $1,050

Starting Bid: $300

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Southeast Asia, Borneo, Dayak culture, ca. late 19th to mid-20th century CE. Carved from a single timber, this Dayak hampatong guardian figure rises with a quiet but unmistakable authority. The tall, blocklike base supports a crouched, forward-leaning figure whose elongated arms rest along bent legs, a posture that suggests readiness rather than rest. Proportion is deliberate rather than naturalistic. The head appears large in relation to the body, its deeply incised features and simplified planes giving the face a focused, watchful presence. Forward-set eyes meet the viewer directly, while a stylized coiffure or headdress signals the figure's ritual identity. Tool marks and pronounced wood grain remain integral to the surface, lending the sculpture rhythm and vitality. The carving favors texture over refinement, reflecting Dayak sculptural traditions in which the material itself is believed to hold spiritual force. Size: 4.3" W x 27.5" H (10.9 cm x 69.8 cm)

Such hampatong figures were traditionally erected near villages, longhouses, or burial grounds, where they served as guardians against harmful influences and as intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds. In many cases, they also commemorated ancestors or individuals of significance, fixing lineage memory within the landscape.

Elongated proportions and frontal orientation place this figure within a long continuum of Bornean guardian sculpture, while subtle differences in posture and execution point to regional or workshop variation. Both protective and commemorative, the figure stands as a powerful expression of Dayak cosmology, where ancestry, vigilance, and the unseen world are given enduring form in wood.

Provenance: private Rogers, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Bosio collection, Miami, Florida, USA, 1960-2000

SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).

PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.

Item # 200171

  • Condition: Damaged. Heavily weathered with splitting, fissures, chips, and small losses as shown. Rich patina to surface.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000