Shaman’s Medicine Container, buli-buli
Karo Batak, Sumatra, Indonesia
19th-early 20th c.
Provenance: Old American collection
This container is a remarkable example of craftsmanship. The stopper is crafted from wood with a deep, dark, and glossy black patina. It is carved to depict two ancestor figures mounted on the back of a stylized singha, an important and protective mythological creature in Batak lore. The carved stopper fits into a goat horn, which likely contained various mysterious magical substances. The patina is rich and encrusted, a testament to generations of use. Both forearms of the bottom figure are missing, as is a section of the singha’s tail. Overall, the container is in very good condition and shows significant age.
Size
Height: 8 in / 20.3 cm
Item
IN 1-5-25 / Price: $1,800
Gallery
Shaman’s Medicine Container, buli-buli
Karo Batak, Sumatra, Indonesia
19th-early 20th c.
Provenance: Old American collection
This container is a remarkable example of craftsmanship. The stopper is crafted from wood with a deep, dark, and glossy black patina. It is carved to depict two ancestor figures mounted on the back of a stylized singha, an important and protective mythological creature in Batak lore. The carved stopper fits into a goat horn, which likely contained various mysterious magical substances. The patina is rich and encrusted, a testament to generations of use. Both forearms of the bottom figure are missing, as is a section of the singha’s tail. Overall, the container is in very good condition and shows significant age.
Size
Height: 8 in / 20.3 cm
Item
IN 1-5-25 / Price: $1,800
Gallery