1930 Indonesian Sasak Lontar Palm Wedding Dowry Storage Box

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Description

c. 1930 Indonesian Sasak Lontar Palm Wedding Dowry Storage Box

Antique Indonesian Sasak Lontar Palm Wedding Dowry Storage Box (pandanus … Read more c. 1930 Indonesian Sasak Lontar Palm Wedding Dowry Storage Box

Antique Indonesian Sasak Lontar Palm Wedding Dowry Storage Box (pandanus palm leaf) featuring split bamboo with red pattern decoration, made by Muslim Sasak people, Lombok Island, Indonesia, circa 1930s. Originally intended to be used to store and carry wedding cloths. Strengthened by a framework of split bamboo struts.

Dimension: 16"W x 14”Dx 16.5"H

Origin:
"The lontar or palmyra palm is the tree of life on the mountainous, arid islands of Indonesia's Nusa Tenggara Province. The Sasak communities are Islamic or Wektu Telu, a form of Islam combined with the earlier Hindu and Buddhist influences from the Bali and Philippines regions.

These boxes are known for their stability, which is due to their scaffold of bamboo, which supports the lontar (pandanus palm leaf) walls, base and top. Both the tops and sides of the boxes are reinforced with strips of bamboo, which are also ornamental. The fronts of the boxes are decorated with small white shells in patterns that are curvilinear and non-pictorial in character. The boxes are very light and easy to move around, yet they are strong enough to stand on.In order to produce a lontar box, the maker would first have to split the pandanus leaves and dry them before working with them.

There are two methods by which leaves can be coloured. The first is by boiling or soaking with bark, fruit or other colour-yielding material. In this method, the colours are usually subdued brown and gold. The second method is to bury the stripped leaves for several days until they turn brown; for a really dark brown, they are boiled with teak leaves and reburied. Other dyes which produce brighter colours must be used together with a mordant to reach the desired hues."
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Provenance: This piece was procured via auction of an asset disposition of antiques from a prop and set dressing company in Hollywood, CA. See less