Shan Medicine Statues

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1910: item #1093615
2382

Pair of unique and eclectic Shan lacquer images, from Thai/Burmese border. These are used for grinding down to make medicine or magic potions. The larger one is molded of compressed powder (the head has been broken off and glued back on) and unused circa 50 years old, the smaller one is hand carved from what looks to be a root and is circa 100 years old. The Shan, as all Asian cultures have a strong tradition of herbal medicine, the fact these have been carved into images adds an element of S... Click for details

Chin bone necklace

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1960: item #1083894
2361

As in the Chin ethnic group in Burma (not chin bones), eclectic strand of round wood, cylindrical bone and horse tooth beads. Some of the bone beads have “pumteked”, i.e. dyed to resemble old stone pumtek heirloom beads, possibly by a wax resist method. These were collected in the 1980s and had some age at the time so I will date around 1960. Total L: 71cm/28in.

Shaman’s Knives

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1960: item #1082493
2357

Pair of carved bone knives from the Karen people Northern Thai/Burmese border, circa 50 years old. These are used in healing rituals to symbolically cut someone to let out the evil spirits or illness out. Please note in scale in enlargements is in centimeters.

Bontoc Ceremonial Rice Harvesting Knife

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1920: item #1078797
2344

Rare ritual rice knife used for the “first cutting” of the harvest. The handle has a “Bulul” rice God and the blade is quite sharp and serviceable. This comes from the Bontoc subgroup of the Igorot people, Central Mountain Province, Luzon Philippines, circa 1920. There is a split in the handled patched with all purpose “tribal putty” which usually consists of tree resin and kerosene. I spent one day cutting rice (and boy, was my back sore the next day),which gives one an appreciation for these k... Click for details

An Unusual Artifact- Indonesia – Engraved Boar Skull

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1920: item #1015258
ICHI 1678-A1

This is one of the most unusual items we have ever had in our collection. As you can see, it is the skull of a wild boar that is engraved with a face on the front of the skull. It was purchased from a man who had lived in Indonesia for many years, so I have no reason to doubt the story behind the skull.

The story goes that a small boy fro... Click for details

Kayan Gawai Mask

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1970: item #1004493
2155

Good and authentic Sarawak (Borneo) Kayan ethnic group spirit mask. This was used only twice a year for rice planting and harvesting festivals (gawai), these gatherings were usually a good excuse for a party and celebration to encourage the spirits to ensure a good harvest. Looks to be carved from palm wood and has a good “use” inner patina. I picked this up in Kuching, Sarawak about 6 years ago; it was only one I saw of this type. Circa 40 to 50 years old. H: 19cm/7.5in and W: 1... Click for details

Naga beads

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1950: item #956058
2096

Fine and rare Naga child’s cowrie shell necklace from northwest Burma on hand woven macramé cotton cord. These is an old set, circa 60 years with an excellent worn natural patina, please note that each bead is hand carved to nest into one another. Cowrie shells has been used been used as money and jewelry since just about the beginning of the human race. Please note that this is a genuinely old Naga artifact- most of what is being offered on the internet these days are new pieces a... Click for details

Silver Pipe of Lawa Hill Tribe People

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1980: item #945150
40-09

This silver and clay pipe is from a Lawa tribal group living in northern Thailand. (For Lawa pipes similar to this one, see “Peoples of the Golden Triangle,” by Paul and Elaine Lewis, Thames and Hudson, 1998, p. 66.) The Lawa, also called Lua or Wa/Lawa, are a lowland people, one of the smaller tribal groups among the hill tribes of Thailand, Burma and Laos. The black clay bowl on this pipe is in pristine condition, suggesting it replaced earlier bowls that were affixed to the old curved silver ... Click for details

Lao tiger wall hanging

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1950: item #928863
2055

Fine and rare old hand spun and woven cotton textile from Luang Prabang, Laos with indigo tiger and monkey motif and key fret side borders. Comparing the dyes (note the well toned silk threads in last enlargement) to other dated Vietnam War era pieces, I saw during a recent visit, I would put this piece to at least 60 years or older. Excellent condition and mounted on a contemporary handwoven cotton backing and border. L: 128cm/51in and H: 56cm/22in (mounted dimensions 88cm/35in x ... Click for details

Shan Rice Ladle with Monkey on Handle

Southeast Asian: Folk Art: Primitive Works of Art Pre 1910: item #914601
63-21

A lacquered teak rice scoop from the Shan tribal people who live in eastern Burma and along the northwestern Thai border has a charming monkey perched at the end of its curved handle. The monkey, with both hands under his chin, seems to be staring out in wide-eyed wonder at the world. Some time ago we sold a Shan water ladle of lacquered teak that had several monkeys cavorting along the handle (see 64-31 in our Archives) and our guess is that the monkeys on that piece and the one on this piece r... Click for details