**Originally Listed At $600**

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Timor Island, Tetum, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A beautiful pair of spoons, each skillfully carved from the horn of a buffalo to present a shallow, ovoid bowl and a long, complex stem or handle. Boasting hues of mocha and caramel, the larger spoon displays a tall, curved handle with openwork and incised decoration of stylized birds and geometric motifs. Alternatively, the more petite example exhibits a concave grip and an elaborate handle with several dramatic tiers jutting outwards, all adorned in openwork and incised bird designs. Size of largest: 9.3" L x 2.1" W (23.6 cm x 5.3 cm); 9.1" H (23.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Ritual spoons like these examples 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."

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1999.47.60.

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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#168589

Larger has old repair to shoulder with break lines visible and losses to peripheries of bowl and end of handle, as well as some bending to handle, but form is still clear. Smaller also has losses to periphery of bowl, repair to handle with break lines visible, and stable fissures to handle. Both have expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, both are very nice with lovely patina.