Lot n° 241
Estimation :
8000 - 9000
EUR
Kayan - Dayak protective basket. Borneo. Indonesia. Wood. Pr - Lot 241
Kayan - Dayak protective basket. Borneo. Indonesia. Wood. Presumed to be from the late 19th and early 20th century. H.58. Representation of Aso, the mythical dragon dog, fierce guardian and protector. This very interesting piece of architecture of a Kayan nobleman's house is of great finesse and impressive sculptural vigor. The top of the post is carved with a series of superimposed aso associated with the dragon in a half-dog half-reptile form with sharp teeth, a tongue of fire and claw-like fingers. The aso is part of the primordial spirits that guard the world. The long earlobes are a symbol of high status. This suggests that this pole was meant to express the importance and high position of the clan family that owned it. The sculpture is powerful. The style is deeply marked by the aesthetic canons of the kayans: the muscles of the limbs are strong and relatively round, the joints are angular, the eyes are round and hypnotic, the heads fit into a triangular heart shape. The hardwood is eroded by time and weathering. Cf. www.scienceetarttribal.com on the Kayan Dayak of Borneo by Bertrand Claude.
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