A medicine box from Burma in the form of a mythical composite animal is carved of the local dense teak wood and lacquered in red that has worn and aged to reveal a primary coating of black lacquer, creating a pleasing patina. We have seen other old Burmese medicine boxes in strange animal shapes, perhaps carved with the intent of scaring off ill omens. This one appears to be part tiger, part dragon, which is the second such combination we have seen, suggesting that this particular pairing was a ...click for details
The Ramayana characters of Hamunan, the white monkey god, and Sita, the abducted wife of Rama, form the handle of this hand carved teak rice scoop from Burma. Hanuman is depicted carrying Sita back across the sea to Rama after rescuing her from the evil king Ravanna. The figures are familiar icons in the arts of Southeast Asia, particularly in Burma where the many heroes and villains of The Ramayana are universally recognized because the epic is still regularly performed there in puppet shows an ...click for details
A pair of pulleys that were used on a hand loom in Burma show the Burmese love for exuberant decorative elements on objects for everyday use. The tall carved peacocks are larger than the pulleys, and may have been just one of a number of such decorations on a woman’s loom. Simple household objects are traditionally well made and attractive in Burma, where no lines are drawn between fine arts and folk or applied arts. The peacock, emblem of the Kon-baung Dynasty (1752-1885), remains a favorite de ...click for details
The Ramayana story of the heroic white monkey god Hanuman's rescue of Sita is portrayed by the carving that forms the handle of this teak wood rice scoop. Characters from the Indian epic Ramayana, familiar icons throughout Southeast Asia, are seen on folk and fine art, in children's books and on temple walls as representations of good and evil. In this carving, Hanuman is carrying Sita across the sea back to Rama after rescuing her from the evil king Ravanna. Hanuman is holding his long ...click for details
This most unusual rice ladle from the Shan minority people of Southeast Asia has carvings of a peacock, an elephant, a donkey, a fish and a mystery animal all lined up along its handle. Carving on the double handle, meant to simulate rope, is skillfully done; carving on the animals is much more primitive, which probably means that it originated in one of the many small Shan villages concentrated in northeast Burma and northwest Thailand. The ladle bowl is made from a sturdy gourd coated with lac ...click for details
An elephant-like mythical animal believed to offer protection to a house and its inhabitants is carved of teak wood and sealed with black lacquer. From the Shan minority people in northeast Burma, the carving has a sliding lid over a large open area that was used to store medicine. The animal is a fanciful composite creature from the carver’s imagination. The trunk is raised over a distinctly non-elephant-like open mouth with sharp teeth. The ears are flowers that extend upwards from above the ...click for details
The curved white tusk of a wild boar was fitted with three silver filigree bands to create this tribal necklace from one of Indonesia's out islands. This unusual mid to late 20th century piece carries the aura of the jungle but its island tribal origin is unknown to us. Numerous ornaments, including small statues, utensils and kris handles, fashioned from various types of horn and bone were believed within island tribal cultures to have magical properties. The tusk hangs from a silver chain ...click for details
This triptych tableau featuring the Buddhist earth goddess, Wathundaye, is carved of teak and fitted with wood hinges to form a folding altar. The mid-20th century piece is from the countryside in Burma, where Wathundaye is a revered Buddhist icon. She is shown in the act of wringing water from her long hair, depicting a Jataka story that credits her with using the water to drown the evil Mara and his armies who were attempting to disrupt Buddha's path to enlightenment as he meditated under ...click for details
This primitive carved wood mask is from the Batak people who live around mystical Lake Toba in the northern reaches of the island of Sumatra. The small collection of Batak protector masks pictured in this catalogue (see them all under our category "Tribal") shows the fascinating range of expressions artisans were able to achieve in these relatively simple carvings. The impression conveyed by this particular mask, one of wide-eyed innocence, is underscored by the soft pastel colors used ...click for details
This primitive carved wood mask is from the Batak people who live around mystical Lake Toba in the northern reaches of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The small collection of Batak protector masks pictured in this catalogue (see them all under our category "Tribal") shows the fascinating range of facial expressions artisans were able to achieve in these relatively simple carvings. This particular mask has a bird theme, with rather predatory owl-like eyes and a red and green bird he ...click for details
