Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Sumba Island, 20th century. A carved wooden figure of a standing demon or spirit with large ears, bulging eyes and hands pressed together before the chest, rising from a long tapering spike. It is shown on a wooden block.

On Sumba, carved spirit figures guard houses, granaries and possessions, and are rooted in the island’s Marapu ancestor religion. The spiked lower end suggests it was driven into a wall, post or bundle, or served as a hanging hook. Field collected.