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THBEarly 20th C. Iban Dayak Wood Coffin - "Dragon Dog"
Lot 83b
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $7,500
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 12, 2020
Set Reminder
2020-03-12 10:00:00
2020-03-12 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient / Ethnographic Around The World
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-around-the-world-4957
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (436)
- Lot Description
Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak, Iban Dayak people, ca. early 20th century CE. A fascinating wooden coffin, handmade from a single hollowed-out log. Its exterior is carved with dramatic relief images in the sinuous form of the "dragon-dog", a mythical creature that is part crocodile, part hornbill, and part dragon, one of the most common and powerful symbols in Dayak cosmology. These sinuous carvings are on the coffin and its lid, which is the upper part of the log, cut out to form a removable panel. At one end of the coffin is a three-dimensional four-legged creature that resembles a dog with its mouth open and full of teeth. The other end features high relief lizard-like animals that seem to grasp its edges. Size: 70" L x 10.5" W (177.8 cm x 26.7 cm)
In Iban Dayak society, burial rituals often included a coffin like this one, mainly used for secondary burial. Immediately after death, a body was initially interred so that the flesh would decay while the family saved money to have an appropriate feast and celebrate their deceased family member in fitting style. A few years later, the body - now clean bones - would be retrieved and placed into a coffin carved with guardian figures and talismanic motifs. These often included the dragon dog, as seen here. Interestingly, some scholars see a connection between the iconography of this creature and those found on Chinese bronzes from the Warring States Period, perhaps suggesting some cultural contact in the past.
Provenance: private Nevada, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#150105The surface is weathered, with some cracking, scratches, chips, and nicks, notably on the end without the "dog". There is some inactive insect damage, mainly on the interior and ends. This said, the motifs are beautifully preserved.Condition
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