Wooden Kareau statue

Made:
1880-1925 in India
Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic

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Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic
Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Kareau figure of carved and painted wood, anthropomorphic, representing standing male with wings and European clothes, from Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, 1880-1925

This carved and painted wooden kareau figure is also known as a ‘scare-devil’. It is from the Nicobar Islands in India. It was made by a ‘menluana’. This is a ritual specialist or healer who communicates with the spirit world. The figure was set up outside a sick person’s house to scare and drive away the bad spirits thought to be causing disease. The statue is dressed in European clothing. This perhaps reflects the perceived power of Europeans at the time.

Details

Category:
Asian Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A655618
Materials:
wood
Measurements:
overall: 1338 mm x 1030 mm x 290 mm, 4 kg
type:
statue
credit:
Lowis, F.