Aso Architectural Element
Bahau Dayak, Borneo, Indonesia,
19th c. or before
Provenance: Francois Coppens collection, Belgium
Published: East of Borneo, 2019, fig.2
This Aso head was an architectural element from a platform structure erected inside a sacred cave. The Aso is one of the most important protective symbols in the Dayak culture. Its softly weathered patina is the tell tale sign of a “cave patina”. It is carved from ironwood, which is extremely dense. The carving was made by a very confident hand; it is both powerful and beautifully conceived.
Aso Architectural Element
Bahau Dayak, Borneo, Indonesia,
19th c. or before
Provenance:
Francois Coppens collection, Belgium
Published: East of Borneo, 2019, fig.2
This Aso head was an architectural element from a platform structure erected inside a sacred cave. The Aso is one of the most important protective symbols in the Dayak culture. Its softly weathered patina is the tell tale sign of a “cave patina”. It is carved from ironwood, which is extremely dense. The carving was made by a very confident hand; it is both powerful and beautifully conceived.