House door
Wood
Toraja People, Sulawesi
ca. late 19th century
Height: 75cm (29.5")
A heavily patinated waterbuffalo-figure door, reduced to pure form and utmost simplicity.
Wood
Toraja People, Sulawesi Isl.
ca. early 20th century
Length: 36cm (14")
Used in Torajan funerary feasts, the dulong held vegetables or meats. This piece has a very unusual and graceful form.
Ironwood
Tunjung Dayak, E. Kalimantan
ca. early 20th century
Height: 23.5cm (9.3")
These "calendars" are used by a number of Dayak groups to determine auspicious times for hunting and other activities. Horizontally, are the seven days of the week; vertically, are the five periods of the day.
East Java
ca. early 20th century
Height: 9.5cm (3.7")
Fine example of the "magic mountain" or "corn style" Eastern Javanese hilt.
Wood
Lampung, South Sumatra
ca. early 20th century
Height: 7.5cm (3")
This “kingfisher" hilt features extremely detailed carving that has a very tribal feel.
Minangkabau people, West Sumatra
ca.early 20th century
Height: 8.5cm (3.5")
A good example of the style, with pleasing patina and striations.
Madura Island
ca. Late 19th century
Height: 9cm (3.5")
A pure floral treatment of the classic Madurese form.
Ironwood
Melawi River, W. Kalimantan
ca. Early 20th century
Length: 56cm (22")
The floralized abstraction of form is a common Bornean theme, but it is also
found in the Sulu Islands, and in classical Indonesian art, such as keris
handles.
Uru Wood
West Toraja, Sulawesi
ca. Early 20th century
Length: 59cm (23.3")
An architectural element found on the four corners of traditional Torajan
houses, Banua.
Deer antler and wood
Kenyah Dayak people, West Kalimantan
ca. early 20th century
Length: 37cm (14.5")
Bornean peoples are famous for their artful ornamentation of implements and handtools. A stylized Naga head is depicted in the carved antler section of the piece.
Lacquered wood
Burmese (Shan peoples ?)
ca. early 20th century
Length: 30cm (12")
A lightly lacquered wood piece, with subtle carved ornamentation.
Wood
Burmese
ca. late 19th or early 20th century
Height: 36cm (14")
A pleasing, tranquil depiction of this mythological creature. Kinnari were said to have danced at the enlightenment of Buddha.
Wood, metal
Sumba Island
ca. early 20th century
Height: 73cm (28.7")
A Sumbanese example of a stringed-instrument tradition found throughout Eastern Indonesia.
Wood
Siberut, Mentawai Islands
ca. early/mid 20th century
Height: 49cm (19.3")
Probably a slit gong striker, and not a hand-weapon. Rich patina with a simple incised face.
Silver
Swat people, Pakistan
ca. early 20th century
Height:25cm (6")
A beautiful and sculptural example of an ornamental form found among tribal peoples throughout South and South East Asia.
Bronze
Karo Batak People, Pardindingan area, N. Sumatra
ca. late 19th / early 20th century
Height: 10cm (4")
A shaman’s Jimat (talisman), worn either around the neck or the upper arm. This piece depicts a human head above a Singa-like deity form. The heads are hand embossed, and attached to a hand hammered plate.