Ancient Equestrian Statuette Of An Ancestor - Kalash People, Himalayas, Kafiristan (nuristan)

Ancient equestrian statuette of an ancestor - Kalash people, Himalayas, Kafiristan (present-day Nuristan) Probably early 20th century or earlier. Carved wooden statuette representing an ancestor on his horse with auspicious symbols. Height 33.5cm Base dimensions 17.5cm x 7.5cm Weight 980gr Some of these statuettes were life-size and placed near graves, others of more modest sizes, like this one, were part of the family home. (see Musée des Confluences in Lyon, exhibitions "Himalayan festivals, the last Kalash" October 2018). Former Kafiristan is currently a province in the Northeast of Afghanistan. Bibliography: "Nuristan" by Klimburg & Janata, catalog, fig. p. 19; "The Kafirs of the Hindu-Kush" by Sir George Scott Robertson 1896, fig. p. 17, 647, 649.