Hand-Carved Backstrap with Floral Engravings from Madura, Java, Indonesia

A wonderfully hand-carved wooden panel with floral motifs from the Indonesian island of Madura, off the coast of eastern Java. This decorative panel once adorned a traditional Madura...

This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It features movable arms, controlled by outer bamboo rods (however this puppet lost one of its bamboo rods over the years due to age) It was used in Wayang puppet...

This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It features movable arms, controlled by outer bamboo rod...

This flat shadow puppet was crafted on the island of Java by a puppet artist using buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. It was used in Wayang puppet...

Originally collected in the Solomon Islands in 1938, this one of a kind treasure from the south pacific comes from a private oceanic collection. This is a Solomon Islands Santa Cruz hand carved figure called a Duka, circa 1930s. It was carved in an extremely hard native wood and features a finely carved, unusual extended conical head, a handwoven loin cloth and turmeric encrustation. For your convenience, many of our photographs were taken in natural day light which accurately illuminate surface areas depicting original dark patina that you would expect from an important early carving such as this one. We will include a complimentary custom wood display base that you see photographed. Dimensions: 21.25 inches high Provenance: collected in l938 and originally acquired by a visiting French collecting tourist in the Solomon Islands then to dealer and Texas collector and to our private collection in year 2000 so could have been a specially crafted fine 1930s tourist sculpture piece for the visiting French tourist. History: Duka sculpture from Nendo Island, politically part of the Solomon Islands, is distinctive, and only a limited number of works have been documented. The conical extension at the back of the head represents a man's hairstyle. Called abe, its construction and shape was a symbol of wealth and high social status, and for older men, it also served the practical purpose of covering bald spots. All Nendo figure refer to deities or supernatural beings (Ellis: 2009, pp. 78-85) Auction sale: Bonhams Auctions April 28, 2015 sale. Exceptional Lime Container...

19th century exceptionally large buffalo mold from Burma Materials: wood, metal Measures: H 23 in x L 18.5 in, 58.4 cm x 47 cm. Wooden buffalo mold for making papier mâché toy...

A large antique hand carved tribal 19th century sculpture from the Batak People, northern Sumatra, called a Singa Singa with painted accents. Attracting our eye with its charismatic presence, this large hand carved shield from the Indonesian island of Sumatra is one of the most iconic images of the Batak tradition. Called a Singa Singa, it was placed in the exterior corners of the traditional houses adorned with boat-shaped roofs, to disperse fear. Presenting a high forehead and angular traits, this Singa Singa sculpture is accented with faint traces of black for the eyes and a nicely distressed patina revealing its life spent outdoors. The back is flat with a small hole. Perfect to decorate any wall or perhaps to be mounted on a base depending on your needs, its riveting presence and delicate scrolling décor will make this Batak Singa...

A large oval tray, hand-carved in Indonesia out of a single piece of Jackfruit wood. Rounded bottom. Natural color finish. 42 inches wide, 13 inches deep, 3 inches high.