Brian Stephenson Indonesian Tribal Art

Background

Nias is a issolated island lying approximately 150 kilometers off the west coast of North Sumatra, Indonesia. It has been inhabited since pre-historic times. Prior to the island's occupation by Dutch colonialists in the early 19th century the Nias people (the Ono Niha) were strongly tribal, war-like and anamistic with a deep belief in spirits, and in particular, ancestor worship. They expressed this spiritualism in their art, most importantly in their stone and wood carvings.

For more information on Nias Island including its history, art and culture visit: The Nias Heritage Museum

Collecting Nias Art

In my opinion the most important items of Nias art, and the most investable, are their ancester figures, carved in both stone and wood. Items that can be established as being as being pre-contact are of course more valuable.

Historical Photographs

Studio portrate of two Nias warriors c.1890 (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)	Nobleman and woman in front of Great House, South Nias (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)	Nias tribesmen moving a megalith to honor a dead chief, Bawomataluo village, South Nias c.1915 (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)	Wooden ancestor figures (Adu Zatua) inside a Nias house (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)
The chiefs or great house, South Nias (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)	Nias warrior with child (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)

Stone Sculpture

Gowe Hiligoe, Sisarahili Village, West Nias	Gowe Baluga Haluana'a, Ononamalo Tumula Village, North Nias. This megalith is thought to be over 600 years in age. (see: www.northniastourism.com)	Hilimbaruzo megalith in Tuhemberua village, North Nias	Gowie megaliths in front of a house in Olayama village, South Nias (see www.museum-nias.org)
Gowe Ni'oniha (Musee du quai Branly, France)	Gowe Ni'oniha (Musee du quai Branly, France)	Gowe Ni'oniha Brian Stephenson Indonesian Tribal Art
Stone seat or Osa-Osa (see www.museum-nias.org)	Stone seat or Osa-Osa	Stone seat or Osa-Osa

Wood Sculpture

Nias male ancestor figure (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) (see www.mfah.org)	Nias Adu Siraha Salawa, "turban style" (Barbier Muller Museum) (see www.barbier-mueller.ch)	Nias male ancestor figure (Adu Zatua) (Brooklyn Museum) (see www.brooklynmuseum.org)	Nias female ancestor figure (The Wallace Collection) (see www.wallacetribal.com)
Nias male ancestor figure (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)	Nias Adu Siraha Salawa (Tropical Museum, Amsterdam)	Nias male ancestor figure (ex Brian Stephenson Indonesian Tribal Art) (see www.bstribalart.com)	Nias male ancestor figure (Adu Zatua) (Brian Stephenson Indonesian Tribal Art) (see www.bstribalart.com)
Nias male ancestor figure (Musee du quai Branly, France)	Nias Adu Siraha Salawa (ex Brian Stephenson Indonesian Tribal Art) (see www.bstribalart.com)	Nias wood panel with male ancestor figure (ex Brian Stephenson Indonesian Tribal Art) (see www.bstribalart.com)