Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Timor Island, Tetum, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A wonderful spoon, skillfully carved from the horn of a buffalo to present a shallow, ovoid bowl, a rhomboid shoulder, and a broad, rectangular stem or handle. The impressive handle is intricately carved with an elaborate openwork design of an anthropomorphic figure surrounded by 4 bird-like creatures, all flanked above and below by a border of concentric circles. Size: 7.6" L x 2.3" W (19.3 cm x 5.8 cm); 8.7" H (22.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Ritual spoons like this example are typically carved by Timorese men. According to the Dallas Museum of Art, "The splendidly decorated ritual spoons were found over a much larger area than West Timor. The most impressive specimens, often adorned with beautiful openwork carving, are probably those of the Tetun in Central Timor. An interesting feature of their decoration is the frequent use of human figures, as well as the bird motif. Both subjects are sometimes rendered in high relief, and in some rare cases the human figures are even partially three-dimensional. These human shapes probably had a meaning comparable to that of the birds, signifying that the deceased had said his farewells to the community and was now a part of the realm of the ancestors."

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 1995 to 2010; ex-Ami Brown collection, New York, USA, acquired from 1950 to 1970

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#168448

Intact and excellent with rich patina.