A Nicobar scare devil figure

A Nicobar scare devil figure,

Bay of Bengal

modelled as an Andaman figure with a wide parted coiffure and an open mouth with later painted eyes and teeth, with a removable right arm with a clenched fist able to hold a spear, the left arm missing, with a wide stance having integral tapered blocks under the feet to secure into the base, the front with an applied brass plaque stamped AN ANDAMANESE CAPTAIN. J. R. EUSTACE. R.N.,

90.5cm high.

Provenance

Collected by Captain John Bridges Eustace, Royal Navy.

Captain John Bridges Eustace was the Commander of HMS Fox, a second class protected cruiser, based at the East Indies Station in 1904 and it is likely that this was when the above lot and three other known pieces were collected from Nicobar. All four have an applied brass plaque. Eustace was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1913 and Admiral in 1922.