Producer unknown to us
Spirit Figure
Asia, Russia, Amur area
Before 1889
Wood; carved
Context of acquisition unknown to us
Purchased by the museum from J. F. G. Umlauff (ethnographic dealership) in 1900
NAs 1493
Many people in the Nanai region believe the world is divided into different realms inhabited by benevolent and evil spirits as well as hybrid beings. Humans dwell in the middle realm. These realms influence one another, and daily life—particularly interactions with spirits—is shaped by numerous rules of conduct and taboos. Spirits, for example, can cause illness.
Shamans acted as intermediaries between the human community and the spirits. During their journeys to the afterlife and when in contact with spirits, the shaman is guided by protective and helpful spirits, who serve as escorts, ”bodyguards,” and advisors. These spirits possess great knowledge and power and appear in both human and animal forms. They can also transform, depending on the situation. Additionally, they act as a means of transport for the shaman on their spiritual journeys. The protective and helpful spirits choose the shaman, place themselves at their service, and establish a bond of friendship with them. The more protective and helpful spirits a shaman has, the stronger and wiser they are considered. At the same time, however, the shaman is dependent on the favor of these spirits and must fulfill their demands.
Spirit figures such as this one were placed in the house, regularly offered food and asked for help in the event of illness or other misfortune.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the museum acquired an extensive collection of objects from the Amur region—including these spirit figures—from Heinrich C. Umlauff, a Hamburg-based dealer in natural history and ethnographic items. A significant influence on the young Heinrich was his uncle, Carl Hagenbeck, the well-known animal dealer, zoo director, and organizer of the so-called “human zoos.” Heinrich initially took over the ethnographic part of the business and, eventually, the entire family firm. From Hamburg, which had become a center for the trade of natural history and ethnographic objects in the second half of the 19th century, Heinrich and other dealers, such as Godeffroy, supplied many renowned museums around the world.
Marita Andó, Irma Schubert