Handle

Timor, Indonesia
19th c

This finely carved handle was originally affixed to a ceremonial gourd used in the offering of sacred water during important rituals and communal ceremonies. Such vessels played a vital role in spiritual life across many regions of Indonesia, where water was not only a practical necessity but also a powerful symbol of purification, life, and ancestral blessing.

This particularly striking example is masterfully carved from horn and shaped into the form of a bird, a creature often associated with spiritual messengers and ancestral presence. The bird’s prominent beak and large, alert eye are positioned just below the point where the handle would have connected to the gourd.

Both sides of the handle are intricately carved in low relief, featuring a latticework of interwoven smaller birds. This complex design reflects not only high craftsmanship but also the cultural importance of avian symbolism in the region—where birds are frequently viewed as intermediaries between the earthly and spiritual realms.

The handle bears a rich, dark patina, developed through long-term ritual use and careful handling, adding to its depth and presence as an object of both aesthetic beauty and spiritual significance.