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Si gale-gale (puppet head)

19th–20th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 351
A unique tradition within Batak sculpture are the puppets known as si galegale. In former times, si galegale appeared at funerals, where they served as stand-ins for the sons of men who had no male children to perform their mortuary rites. Moved by a complex system of internal strings controlled by a puppeteer, si galegale participated in funerary dances alongside the deceased's family. With the aid of moistened balls of moss inside its head, some were even able to shed tears for their dead fathers.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Si gale-gale (puppet head)
  • Artist: Toba Batak artist(s)
  • Date: 19th–20th century
  • Geography: Indonesia, Sumatra, Sumatra
  • Culture: Toba Batak
  • Medium: Wood, copper alloy, lead alloy, water buffalo horn, paint
  • Dimensions: H. (without pull rope) 13 1/4 in. × W. 6 in. × D. 6 1/2 in. (33.7 × 15.2 × 16.5 cm)
  • Classification: Wood-Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Gift of Fred and Rita Richman, 1987
  • Object Number: 1987.453.6
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

Audio

Cover Image for 1760. Puppet Head (Si Gale-gale)

1760. Puppet Head (Si Gale-gale)

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