Heirloom Jar-Lid

Dayak, Borneo, Indonesia
19th Century

I have never seen a chief’s heirloom jar with two monkey like figures such as with this example. These monkey figures are usually found on coffin ends. This amazingly crafted lid with such symbolism infers the monkey as slave and travel to the astral plane with the chief as his slaves. The details are incredible; carved in such a life like manor; it is as if the animals are actually moving on the jar. The patina is aged from decades of storage.

This Jar lid is 10 inches in diameter

SOLD / IN 5-10-09