Animist Burmese figures, Nat or Chinthe.

These sculptures recall certain chinthe, mythological protective lions placed at the entrance of Burmese temples, or manussiha, hybrid half-man, half-lion creatures, although their anthropomorphic features remain unusual here.

Their hybrid appearance, combining human and animal elements, is part of the animist traditions of Southeast Asia, particularly in Burma.

Animism is based on the belief that spirits inhabit objects, animals, and natural elements. In Burmese and Thai art, these beliefs often merged with Buddhism, giving rise to hybrid protective figures inspired by mythical creatures.

• Dimensions (largest piece): H 34 × W 20 × D 19 cm.
• Provenance: Claude de Marteau collection.
• Sold with certificate of origin.

These figures can be interpreted as protective entities from Burmese animist beliefs. They may represent nats, spirits revered in Burma, sometimes depicted in animal or hybrid forms and honored in domestic or local shrines. Their iconography may also evoke tutelary spirits, responsible for watching over a temple, village, or natural space. The crouching posture and raised arms suggest a function as guardian-supports, as if symbolically supporting a structure or an invisible order.

Another interpretation links these figures to modified forms of chinthe or singha, leonine creatures associated with the protection of sacred sites in Buddhism. In an animist context, this protective figure can be transposed and humanized, embodying a controlled force serving a benevolent role.

The anthropomorphic aspect of these sculptures reinforces the idea of a transition between human and animal, a recurring theme in Southeast Asia. This hybridization reflects the spirits’ ability to move between the visible and invisible worlds and highlights the protective function of these figures in local ritual practices.