Indonesian Ancestral Statue with Arms Raised by Mentawai People, Based

Hands up, as though someone asked who made the mess.

This ancestral statue with arms raised, on a base, was carved in wood in West Sumatra, Indonesia, in the 20th century. Ancestor figures in Indonesia are commonly associated with remembrance and protective roles, hedged by wide regional variety. The figure stands tall and narrow on bent legs, hands lifted beside a long oval head. The round eyes and heart-shaped brow are cut shallowly. The dark wood is polished, with a glossy reddish sheen, and the figure is mounted on a small black plinth.

About 17 inches tall. A tall, slim presence for a narrow shelf.