Lombok, Indonesia
19th century
Carved wood
Length 9 1/4 in (23.5 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Paris
Prestige spoons and ladles with carved human figure handles were produced across the Indonesian archipelago, where the integration of ancestral or human forms into utilitarian objects reflected the widespread belief that such objects could carry protective or spiritual agency. This spoon from Lombok features a naturalistic crouching human figure at the handle terminal, rendered with attention to the posture, facial features, and body proportions within the constraints of the narrow form. The elongated handle and shallow bowl are characteristic of the prestige spoon type used in ceremonial food presentation and exchange contexts across eastern Indonesia.
The figure is carved with a compact, weighted posture, the arms wrapped around the knees in a position suggesting contemplation or rest, giving the handle a strong sculptural presence. The wood has developed a deep dark patina consistent with handling and age over an extended period of use. Its provenance from a Paris private collection places it within the established European market for Indonesian ethnographic material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Lombok, Indonesia
19th century
Carved wood
Length 9 1/4 in (23.5 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Paris
Prestige spoons and ladles with carved human figure handles were produced across the Indonesian archipelago, where the integration of ancestral or human forms into utilitarian objects reflected the widespread belief that such objects could carry protective or spiritual agency. This spoon from Lombok features a naturalistic crouching human figure at the handle terminal, rendered with attention to the posture, facial features, and body proportions within the constraints of the narrow form. The elongated handle and shallow bowl are characteristic of the prestige spoon type used in ceremonial food presentation and exchange contexts across eastern Indonesia.
The figure is carved with a compact, weighted posture, the arms wrapped around the knees in a position suggesting contemplation or rest, giving the handle a strong sculptural presence. The wood has developed a deep dark patina consistent with handling and age over an extended period of use. Its provenance from a Paris private collection places it within the established European market for Indonesian ethnographic material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
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