Ceremonial Seat at Quai Branly, Paris

myminifactory

The artisans of Nias island are renowned for their majestic stone sculptures, crafted to honor nobles of both sexes. Commissioned by aristocratic men as part of the ceremonial requirements of owasa ("feasts of merit"), large stone monuments were created to showcase their wealth and prestige. Stone thrones (osa'osa) are unique to Central Nias, where they serve as seats for high-ranking nobles on special occasions. Osa'osa often bear multiple names, describing different aspects of their design and imagery. Broadly, this work is a si sara bagi, indicating that it has one head rather than three. More poetically, it is called laeluo ("leaves in the sun"), a metaphorical reference to its aristocratic sponsor, whose grandeur illuminates the village like sunlight shining on leaves of trees. Specifically, it is a gogowaya (hornbill), a large forest bird depicted as a fantastical composite creature with the legs and teeth of a feline or crocodile, the antlers of a deer, and the beak, crest, and tail of a hornbill. Serving as a supernatural guardian for its noble rider, its ferocity is emphasized by a warrior's necklace (kalabubu) worn around its throat. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access free of charge. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.