Description

Width: 24cm

Depth: 10cm

An ethnographic Dayak basket from Borneo, incorporating a real monkey skull within its woven rattan structure.

This striking piece reflects the material culture and ritual traditions of the Dayak peoples, where natural elements and animal remains were often integrated into objects of symbolic or ceremonial significance.

The basket is hand-woven from darkened rattan, displaying a robust, tightly bound construction with a shaped rim and interlaced fibres forming a domed enclosure.

Set within the weave is a preserved monkey skull, accompanied by additional bone elements, creating a powerful visual composition rooted in traditional practices.

The surface patina across both organic and woven components suggests age and long-term handling.

Pieces of this nature are associated with tribal identity, spiritual belief systems, and, in some contexts, headhunting traditions, where such objects could serve as status symbols, ritual items, or protective talismans within the community.