1960s Indonesian Tribal Feast Offering Tray, Hand Hewn Wood Bowl by the Indigenous Mentawei

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A very Large, 37" long Oval Hand Hewn Tribal Wooden Tray from the Mentawei Islands of the west coast of … Read more A very Large, 37" long Oval Hand Hewn Tribal Wooden Tray from the Mentawei Islands of the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The style and 'surfboard' shape of this tray with a little 'fin' shape on the bottom of one side is unique to these islands.

Carved by hand from a single piece of local hardwood showing the hewn marks of the tools on the surface, smooth to the touch. Trays such as this were used to display food and fruits during rituals.

The Mentawei people are one of the oldest tribes in Indonesia. They live a semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle that revolves around hunting, gathering and the trade of forest products, in the coastal and rainforest environments of the islands. Wooden trays such as this one could be exchanged for grains or manufactured products.

Mentawai believe in the supernatural powers of ancestral spirits and the rainforest. They also have very strong belief towards objects they think are holy.

Mid-Late 20th Century.

Dimensions: 37 inches long x 15 inches wide x 4 inches high at the ends.
The wood is surprisingly lightweight for this large size.

Make a statement with this wonderful centerpiece on a large table, featuring large amounts of fruit, perfect for harvest season. See less