Pair of Blontang Sculpture

A pair of Blontang sculptures is used in the Kwangkay funeral ceremony, the peak death ritual of the Dayak Benuaq people in East Borneo. This ceremony involves relocating the bones of the deceased from their original burial site to a traditional house, where communal rituals are held. The Blontang is believed to serve as a vessel for the spirit of the departed, guiding them to the sacred Mount Lumut. It is carved to resemble the deceased and is also used to tie sacrificial animals, such as buffalo or cows, during the ceremony. Kwangkay is a ritual that honors and expresses gratitude to ancestral spirits.

Dayak Tribe, Ancestral Spirit Effigy, circa 1950
Origin: East Borneo
Material: Ironwood
Dimension:
Left – 107 x 45 x 40 cm
Right – 120 x 36 x 32 cm