Vietnam / Indochina - Large Statue Of Joraï Or Jaraï Ancestor

Vietnam - 19th / 20th century.
Large Joraï or Jaraï statue representing a standing ancestor.
Wood with eroded patina, accidents and missing parts.
Sculpture sold with a base.

On the High Plateaux of Vietnam between the sea and the Mekong, north of Saigon, a population known as "Moï", meaning "barbarian", has lived for centuries. What unites the different currents of this population, which has become acculturated over the last century, are the great annual festival of buffalo sacrifice and the funerary rituals.

Practically no masks exist in this region and only the Jorai have a strong tradition of ancestor carvings that mark the locations of the graves (pösat). Here the figure is depicted standing, eyes and nose still discernible. The severe weather has given this statue a timeless aura accompanying the deceased into the afterlife.

Dimensions:
Height: 88 cm.
Width: 17 cm.
Depth: 18 cm.
Height with base: 89 cm.
Dimensions of the base: 20 x 21 cm.