Hampatong - Dayak Guardian
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Hampatong - Ancestral Dayak Guardian from Borneo
A hampatong is a wood or bone statue carved by the Dayak people who live in the interior of the Island of Borneo (modern name, Kalimantan). It is carved in many sizes, from two inch amulets to six foot statues. A hampatong of this size would be placed on a pedestal or atop a pole and represent an ancestor who would convey messages back and forth between the human and spirit realms. The hampatong is carved in dense, heavy ironwood.
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