Naga Saharang Sahan "Medicine Horn"
Origin: Toba Batak, Indonesia
Period: Late 9th Century
Material: Horn, Wood, Fur, Animal Hide, Metal Chain
Size: 65cm x 8.4cm x 31cm
Description: The Naga morsarang also known as sahan is a container which is used to store medicine in the culture of Toba Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The naga morsarang is created out of the horn of the water buffalo.
The Toba Batak people live in the northern mountainous highlands of Sumatra, one of the several islands that constitute the Republic of Indonesia.
A medicine horn (naga marasarang) such as the one pictured here would have belonged to a religious specialist who was able to communicate with the gods, conduct ceremonies, practice benevolent and malevolent magic, and aid and advice in matters concerning daily life. The medicine horn functioned as a container for a highly potent substance considered magical and even deadly. The substance called pukpuk was prepared, used, and handled only by Batk religious specialists.
The carved container is composite of buffalo horn and carved wood; these pieces are held together with two wood pegs on opposite sides of each other.
Overall, the medicine horn is incised with repeating bands of zigzagging lines and swirling patterns. The main body of the horn is carved in relief with elegant long lines terminating in round scalloped edges. The tip of the horn depicts a human form of sitting atop a zoomorphic creature that has a curled tail and repeating triangular patterned skin; the horns of the creature are grasped tightly by the figure.
The wood element of the medicine horn represents a singa, a mythological animal considered to have protective qualities and commonly incorporated into Toba house design and decorated objects of importance. Four human figures in kneeling position along the back of the singa;s neck hold each other around the waist; the front most figure holds the singa's central and most prominent horn.
ID-ZO-003
Origin: Toba Batak, Indonesia
Period: Late 9th Century
Material: Horn, Wood, Fur, Animal Hide, Metal Chain
Size: 65cm x 8.4cm x 31cm
Description: The Naga morsarang also known as sahan is a container which is used to store medicine in the culture of Toba Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The naga morsarang is created out of the horn of the water buffalo.
The Toba Batak people live in the northern mountainous highlands of Sumatra, one of the several islands that constitute the Republic of Indonesia.
A medicine horn (naga marasarang) such as the one pictured here would have belonged to a religious specialist who was able to communicate with the gods, conduct ceremonies, practice benevolent and malevolent magic, and aid and advice in matters concerning daily life. The medicine horn functioned as a container for a highly potent substance considered magical and even deadly. The substance called pukpuk was prepared, used, and handled only by Batk religious specialists.
The carved container is composite of buffalo horn and carved wood; these pieces are held together with two wood pegs on opposite sides of each other.
Overall, the medicine horn is incised with repeating bands of zigzagging lines and swirling patterns. The main body of the horn is carved in relief with elegant long lines terminating in round scalloped edges. The tip of the horn depicts a human form of sitting atop a zoomorphic creature that has a curled tail and repeating triangular patterned skin; the horns of the creature are grasped tightly by the figure.
The wood element of the medicine horn represents a singa, a mythological animal considered to have protective qualities and commonly incorporated into Toba house design and decorated objects of importance. Four human figures in kneeling position along the back of the singa;s neck hold each other around the waist; the front most figure holds the singa's central and most prominent horn.
ID-ZO-003
