BEJANA

Often referred to as ‘the Makassar axe’, this piece can also be categorized as a bejana (vessel), since it has a cavity in the middle, which might have been used as a water container during religious ceremonies. On each side, front and back, there are different kinds of decorations. The front part is ornamented with a human face, showing some meandering lines above and below, while the back side displays a fish bone motif on both, the left and right sides. The human face or mask are associated with magical powers, believed to ward off evil and danger, and are also regarded as the representation of ancestral souls.