Huge Early 20th C. Indonesian Carved Wood Storage Box

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Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 6, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-06 10:00:00 2019-02-06 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient | Ethnographic | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-3848
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• Lot Description
  Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Bali, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. An extensively carved, lidded storage container - likely carved from palm wood - featuring two mythical entities carved in high relief (practically in the round) - one at each end. A dragon-like creature perches upon one end with all four limbs delineated and a dramatic expression comprised of bulging eyes, thick curved brows, a pronounced snout, a large open mouth revealing sharp teeth with fangs at the outer corners, and a scaly body with an upturned tail. Emerging from the opposite end of the box is the face of another creature - perhaps a Garuda given its avian qualities, its visage presenting bulging eyes, arched brows, feather-like forms, and an open mouth with a beak-like extension. The box has a long removeable lid that is elaborately adorned with bas-relief carvings of abstract flora and mythical visages. Size: 69.25" L x 12" W x 11.5" H (175.9 cm x 30.5 cm x 29.2 cm); 41.5" H (105.4 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Contributing further to the decorative/iconographical program - the sides of the piece are carved extensively as well.
  
  Garuda is a mythical avian creature, a somewhat humanoid bird (note the human hands in combination with the undeniable bird characteristics of this figure), important in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology, representing the enlightened mind and by extension signifying unborn and never-ending possibilities. In Buddhist mythology, Garuda are the brilliant gold-winged Peng birds that possess great intelligence, and most impressively, have the ability to grow quite large or quite small, to appear and disappear. They are known for their brilliant wings which are believed to span miles and miles. According to legend, when Garuda's wings flap, hurricane-like winds dramatically blow down shelters and darken the skies; this narrative stemming from tales of golden-winged Peng birds, believed to dry up the seas with one flap of their wings in order to devour the exposed dragons residing in the waters. In Thailand, one variant of Garuda called Khrut Pha (meaning "Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu") is used as a symbol of the royal family. What's more, statues and imagery of Garuda are featured at many Thai Buddhist temples, and Garuda has become the cultural symbol of Thailand. A marvelous piece manifesting simultaneously as a magnificent avian and divine being.
  
  Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s
  
  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.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #141705

  Condition

  The box shows wear commensurate with age and exposure to the elements; age cracks and losses to peripheries and high-pointed areas. The wood has bleached a bit due to exposure to the sun. The lid still fits this piece, with perforations all along its perimeter, but no dowels or nails remain.
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