Betel Nut Lime Powder Container Red Wood Totem Stopper Clan Motif West Timor

$45.00

Place of Lime / Betel Nut / Tobacco / Siri – TEMPAT KAPUR / KAL AU: In these humble pieces we find Timorese art at its most unaffected. The art of betel nut chewing and its accessories finds no equal when it comes to Timor. Rich in meaning and deeply embedded in its culture, the Atoni have elevated the rituals surrounding it to great heights artistically as well as ceremonially. Still made and used daily, created by hand from bamboo, bone, coconut shell, gourd, buffalo horn and wood each is a unique and original masterpiece in its own right. The carver has created an elegant representation of a bird as the stoppers.

Description

TK1886 – This Tempat Kapur [Place of Lime] is an excellent example of the uniqueness of each carving that the Timorese artists create. An exceptionally well presented lime powder container.

The body is carved using local red wood. The spoon has been carved from wood and also bears a wooden toggle.
The carver is Bapak Ayub Kune from Hane. He has embellished all six sides, which is most unusual as wooden containers are usually round, with his clan totem of a backwards facing bird. These totems tell of ancestral guardian spirits. A serene face acts as the head stopper.
14cm  /  5.5″ tall
80g / 2.9oz.

Place of Lime / Betel Nut / Tobacco / Siri – TEMPAT KAPUR / KAL AU: In these humble pieces we find Timorese art at its most unaffected. The art of betel nut chewing and its accessories finds no equal when it comes to Timor. Rich in meaning and deeply embedded in its culture, the Atoni have elevated the rituals surrounding it to great heights artistically as well as ceremonially. Still made and used daily, created by hand from bamboo, bone, coconut shell, gourd, buffalo horn and wood each is a unique and original masterpiece in its own right.

If you wish to gather multiple treasures, and international buyers are welcome, this website and shop cart should allow for it. If not, I will contact you to find the most economical way to send your treasures to you.

I am Julie and have been collecting Timorese Treasures in the field since 1990 when I won a prize for overseas travel in a pub in Darwin [true]. I had no idea at the time that I had stumbled upon an Aladdin’s cave of authentic traditional tribal textiles and treasures. I have been returning annually ever since [well most years] and been witness to many changes across the last 3 decades.

Clearly none of us are sure what will happen post COVID, but I do know that the villagers, carvers and weavers up in the mountains will be grateful when some outside dollars come into their informal/circular economy. Therefore, every purchase you choose to make with me will benefit the Atoni [people of West Timor] as soon as I can get back there.

I distribute reading glasses and nutritious food seeds as the soil in the western half of Timor is very poor and water a very precious resource. Please contact me if you wish to contribute.

Additional information

Weight 0.085 kg

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.