Stone Pangulubalang Figure

Batak People, North Sumatra, Indonesia
19th-early 20th c.
Stone with traces of black pigment

This compact pangulubalang guardian figure, carved from stone, was created by the Batak of North Sumatra to house a protective spirit. Such figures were ritually activated by a datu (ritual specialist) to safeguard the community, avert misfortune, or secure ancestral favor.

The figure squats with its head tilted upward, as if gazing toward the ancestral heavens—an evocative pose reinforcing its role as a spiritual intermediary. A lizard is carved on its back, likely symbolizing regeneration or ancestral connection, as lizards are often seen as messengers between worlds in Southeast Asian belief systems. Its deeply worn surface and traces of black pigment reveal long exposure to the elements, suggesting it once stood outdoors. An old Dutch label affixed to its head reads, “Field stone figure to gain the favor of the ancestors,” affirming its original ritual purpose.