Luli dera (ancestor figure)

Ancestor figures forged links between the living and the dead. On Leti Island, seated figures were ceremonially fed with offerings such as betel nuts, tobacco, and rice wine in return for guidance on critical matters. To encourage a spirit to enter a carving, the work was placed on a plate of beaten gold and wrapped in a red cloth, an auspicious color. The leftmost figure wears an elaborate gold headdress and ear ornaments, indicating he was a high-ranking member of the elite marna in life.