Sumba Indonesia Wood Figural Cotton Board (Kabiru) w/ Iron Bands

拍品描述

Ca. 1800–2000 CE. Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Sumba Island, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A quietly powerful fusion of labor and belief, this Sumba cotton board kabiru transforms the repetitive work of textile making into a sculptural embodiment of the human presence. Carved from a single plank of dark, dense wood, the board is shaped as a simplified standing figure, with a rounded head, gently incised facial features, and a broad, tapering torso that fills the composition with grounded mass. The surface bears a smooth, timeworn patina, the result of repeated handling and rhythmic use, while natural fissures and tool marks remain visible, preserving the honesty of its making. Iron bands secured at the sides and base reinforce the form, pragmatic elements that now read as sculptural accents rather than mere repairs. Size: 7.8" W x 15.5" H (19.8 cm x 39.4 cm); 18" H (45.7 cm) on included custom stand. Size: 15.5" H x 7.8" W (39.4 cm H x 19.8 cm W); On included custom stand: 18" H (45.7 cm H). Such kabiru boards were traditionally used to pound and soften cotton fibers prior to spinning, an essential step in the production of handwoven textiles central to Sumbanese social life. Textiles on Sumba are not decorative afterthoughts but carriers of lineage, status, and ancestral memory, exchanged in ceremonies and life-cycle rituals. The decision to render a utilitarian implement in human form suggests that labor itself was understood as an extension of the body, and perhaps the spirit, collapsing the divide between maker and object. The figure's calm, inward expression and compact proportions lend it a contemplative presence, as if absorbing the cadence of work performed over generations. Removed from its original function, the kabiru now stands as a sculptural witness to Sumbanese ingenuity, where practicality and artistry coexist without hierarchy. It is an object that worked hard, aged gracefully, and still knows how to hold a room. SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item #199992

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