Rare Chief's seat representing a seated ancestor, Taiwan, Paiwan H. 64 cm. Wood The ancestor is seated, his head turned to his right. He wears a tiara whose main circular element is in the shape of a wheel or flower. Vulung heads are carved on the shoulders (tattoo?), the bodies of the vipers descend on the arms and end again with a head on the seat. The male sex is marked and visible between the legs of the seat. A symbol of the chief's power and authority, the seat is placed in front of the pillar that supports the roof of his house (see next lot) and can be placed on the platform in the center of the village, when the chief makes a speech. The viper of a hundred steps called Vulung is the totemic ancestor of the Paiwan. We would like to thank Nicolas Grévot for the generosity of his information, which allowed us to clarify our remarks. Provenance: 2006-2022. Liliane and Michel Durand-Dessert Collection, Paris Acquired from the Renaud Vanuxem Gallery, Paris Exhibition : Galerie Hélène Kamer (Leloup), Paris. 1973 Publication: Galerie Hélène Kamer (Leloup), Arts of Taiwan, exhibition catalog. 1973. cat.8