Philippines, Ifugao province, ca. early 20th century CE. An incredibly charming and rare carved dark wooden box with a removable lid and two projecting animal heads for handles, one at either long end. The box has repeated notched designs in lines down its body and around the long edges of the lid. The animal heads are long-snouted, with thin slits for eyes and tiny, pointed ears. Could they represent the mouse-deer, the smallest ungulate in the world, native to Southeast Asia, Java, and the Philippines? Or possibly the endangered Filipino Visayan warty pig, whose distinctive long nose and mouth closely resemble those on this box? Whatever it is, it would be a unique and interesting addition to your collection! Size: 9.1" L x 3.3" W x 2.9" H (23.1 cm x 8.4 cm x 7.4 cm)

Provenance: collection of the late Peter Arnovick, San Francisco, California, USA

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#125092

Dark patina on surface from handling and age. One animal snout has a loss from its tip.