Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Borneo, Dayak people, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. This is a rare deer bone carving of a Dayak chief wearing a lofty crown. The regal figure sits with his legs slightly bent before him and hands clasped to his knees. The torso is decorated with scored stippling and curvilinear shapes to symbolize scarification or tattoos along his chest. The barrel shaped head is incised with prominent cheek bones, an elongated nose, and a thin line for a mouth, and upon his head is a crown-like headdress with a cross-hatched band. This figure sits upright on a flat base perhaps to use as a protective guardian, or perhaps to attach to a handle of a knife or bottle as stopper. Size: 2.35" L x 0.75" W x 3.25" H (6 cm x 1.9 cm x 8.3 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ami Brown collection, New York City, New York, USA, acquired 1950 to 1970

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#160658

Natural bone ossification and minor surface abrasions as expected with age, otherwise intact and excellent! Nice patina throughout.