226# Antique NAGA Anthropomorphic Fossil Figure - Himalaya

Description

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Origin:
Nagaland – India - Himalaya
Date/Period:
early 20
th
century carving - several thousands years old material
Size:
8 x 3.5 x 2.7 inches – 1200 grams
Description:
very expressive anthropomorphic large figure carved on a mammoth tusk.
The "Nagas" are a conglomerate of several tribal communities that inhabit the northeastern part of India and the northwestern part of Burma (Myanmar).
The communities have a similar culture and traditions, and form the ethnic majority group in the Indian state of Nagaland, with a significant presence in the states of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
The Nagas were headhunters until the arrival of the Christian missionaries in the 1930s.
Such figurines, given their uniqueness, were exclusively made for the chiefs of the Naga tribes. They refer to everyday scenes and possibly represent the chief himself or his wife.