Material: Wood
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 10cm, Diameter 11 cm (at base)
Order Number: MHSASBB1

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Box appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Pot: Diameter 13 cm, Stopper: Height 15 cm, Width 7 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC4

Ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man riding a mythological animal, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in medicine containers. They often use hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a greenish celadon glaze or blue under-glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early-mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 18.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC2

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 14.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC3

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 11.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC4

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Ceramic, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 9.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASCMC5

The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.

Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.

In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the  Bataks.

This is a Guri Guri (or Perminangken), a ceramic medicine container, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man, the  primordial ancestor, Si Raja Batak,  riding a mythological animal called a Singha, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.  The object is infused with animistic power.

Magician priests kept their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. They often used hollow bamboo tubes but ceramic  vessels were also used, all of Chinese provenance, covered with a glaze.

Map of Sumatra.

Early – mid 20th century.

 Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Ceramic Medicine Container 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, lacquer
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 10.5 cm, Diameter 9.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASDB1

Carved durian medicine box, probably from Palembang, lacquered inside.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Durian Box 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, lacquer
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 10 cm, Diameter 9 cm
Order Number: MHSASDB2

Carved durian medicine box, probably from Palembang, lacquered inside.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Durian Box 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, lacquer
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 9 cm, Diameter 10 cm
Order Number: MHSASDB3

Carved durian medicine box, probably from Palembang, lacquered inside.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Durian Box 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, lacquer
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 11 cm, Diameter 10 cm
Order Number: MHSASDB4

Carved durian medicine box, probably from Palembang, lacquered inside.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Durian Box 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, lacquer
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 9 cm, Diameter 7.5 cm
Order Number: MHSASDB5

Carved durian medicine box, probably from Palembang, lacquered inside.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Durian Box 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, lacquer
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 10 cm, Diameter 11 cm
Order Number: MHSASDB6

Carved durian medicine box, probably from Palembang, lacquered inside.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Durian Box 6 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, lacquer
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 12 cm, Diameter 9 cm
Order Number: MHSASDB7

Carved durian medicine box, probably from Palembang, lacquered inside.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Sumatran Durian Box 7 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bamboo, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 25 cm, Diameter 6.5 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC1

Medicine container, etched with geometric motifs, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man riding a mythological animal, usually described as similar to a lion, with a human face.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in medicine containers. They often use hollow bamboo tubes and the open end is stopped with a wooden plug, the top being usually carved in the shape of a human figure.

The medicine containers were carried by a cord attached to the man’s belt or over his shoulder.

Early – mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Old Sumatran Medicine Container 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Bamboo, wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 34 cm, Diameter 7 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC2

Medicine container, etched with geometric motifs, with carved wooden stopper in the form of a man sitting on top of the head of another man with a large face.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in medicine containers. They often use hollow bamboo tubes and the open end is stopped with a wooden plug, the top being usually carved in the shape of a human figure.

The medicine containers were carried by a cord attached to the man’s belt or over his shoulder.

Early – mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Old Sumatran Medicine Container 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Horn
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height5.25 cm, Diameter 5.5 cm, Depth 3.5 cm
Order Number: MHSOSMC3

Medicine container, etched with geometric motifs, with superbly carved  stopper with a powerful singa (lion) head and upper part of the body and four men on its back in a procession, the datu or priest at the front.

Magician priests keep their magical brews (pupuk) in these medicine containers. The medicine containers were carried by a cord attached to the man’s belt or over his shoulder.

There are examples in The Batak, Peoples of the Island of Sumatra, Achim Sibeth, Thames and Hudson, 1991, page 142.

Early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Old Sumatran Medicine Container 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.