Tavu from Selaru
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This tavu altar is shaped like a human with gracefully extended arms and at
the same time it is decorated with abstract spiral motifs. The arms were
carved separately and added. Very few examples still exist today and
are displayed only in a handful of European museums (example: http://masterpieces.asemus.museum/masterpiece/detail.nhn?objectId=11849).
This domestic altar, which evoked the body of an ancestor, supported one
roof beam of the house. The tavu is a domestic altar dedicated to
ancestors. It was placed opposite the front door. The wealth and
prestigious assets passed down through a family were also included on
the tavu. Certain animals may recall the deeds of the dwelling's
founders. On a shelf above the altar lay the skulls of venerated
ancestors, their first two vertebrae, and often their effigies. The tavu
was an integral part of the notion of lineage and sacred power. It was a
clear link between past and present, endowed with special spiritual
power, a heritage of the "masters of the house". It was here that
prayers and sacrifices were offered to encourage fertility in the
people and in the harvest; to ensure success in fishing or headhunting
expeditions; and to uphold the union between ancestors and their
descendants.
