A pair of large architectural elements. Carved and painted wood. The subject represented is that of the Singa, "lion" according to the Sanskrit root of the name, but in reality an beast of many natures (lion, buffalo, lizard). The Singa, benevolent and protective spirit, is a kind of apotropaic figure within the Batak mythology. Large specimens, like these, were placed on the facades of major buildings and barns to protect their contents
Note - for comparison see: Metropolitan Museum, NY, architectural ornament (Singa), cat. N ° 1988.143.170