Batak Figure Depicting Mythical Singa, Based

Round staring eyes, a jutting nose and a grin full of carved stripes.

This figure depicting a mythical singa is Batak, from Sumatra, Indonesia, and dates to the mid to late 19th century. It is wood, and comes with a base. Among the Batak, the singa is a protective creature, generally shown as a fierce composite head on house fronts and ritual objects, with a lion-like name but no lion's body. The head is long, with spiral eyes ringed in black, a squared snout and a broad jaw lined with vertical grooves. Scrolling relief climbs the brow to a crest, with traces of paint. It is 17 inches wide, 30 deep and 41 high.

Keeping evil out has rarely looked so cheerful.