Material: Wood, iron
Style: Bali, Indonesia
Size: Height 8.5 cm, Width 12 cm, Length 26  cm
Order Number: MHSBRC1

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Bali.

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

The post Antique Balinese Rice Cutter appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: China
Size: Length: 30 cm
Order Number: MHSACRC1

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population.

According to archaeological records, rice was first domesticated in areas surrounding the Yangtze River Valley and the Yellow River around 7000 BC.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

Early – mid 20th century.

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

The post Antique Chinese Rice Cutter 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: China
Size: Length: 15 cm
Order Number: MHSACRC2

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population.

According to archaeological records, rice was first domesticated in areas surrounding the Yangtze River Valley and the Yellow River around 7000 BC.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

Early – mid 20th century.

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

The post Antique Chinese Rice Cutter 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Kepeng Chinese coins, wood
Style: Bali, Indonesia
Size: Height 70 cm, Width 22.5 cm, Depth 22 cm
Order Number: MHSACDSS2

The coins are over 100 years old and the wood is 40-50 years old.

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

The post Antique Coin Statue Dewi Sri appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Kalimantan, Indonesia
Size: Height 12 cm, Length 13.5  cm, Handle: Width 30 cm (top), 17 cm (bottom)
Order Number: MHSRC1

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

The design is a naga or water dragon. Many Borneo groups in Kalimantan represent the upper world god as a hornbill and the underworld goddess as a naga. Their dynamic opposition expresses their unity and source of life.

The hornbill is a large white and black bird with a striking red beak. For the Barito group, Borneo’s largest group, covering the southern half of the island,  it is the upperworld  male supreme deity. For the Iban of Sarawak, Kenyah and related groups of Sarawak and East Kalimantan it is the messenger of the remote high god.

The female water-dragon provides protection to mankind in everyday life. She guards the dead and eases the passage to the next life. She is portrayed in almost all artifacts from kitchen utensils to funerary monuments.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Kalimantan.

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

The post Antique Kalimantan Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Kalimantan, Indonesia
Size: Height 12 cm, Length 23  cm, Handle: Width 11 cm
Order Number: MHSRC2

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

The carvings are the hornbill and naga or water dragon. Many Borneo groups in Kalimantan represent the upper world god as a hornbill and the underworld goddess as a naga. Their dynamic opposition expresses their unity and source of life.

The hornbill is a large white and black bird with a striking red beak. For the Barito group, Borneo’s largest group, covering the southern half of the island,  it is the upperworld  male supreme deity. For the Iban of Sarawak, Kenyah and related groups of Sarawak and East Kalimantan it is the messenger of the remote high god.

The female water-dragon provides protection to mankind in everyday life. She guards the dead and eases the passage to the next life. She is portrayed in almost all artifacts from kitchen utensils to funerary monuments.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Kalimantan.

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

The post Antique Kalimantan Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Lembata, Indonesia
Size: Height 3.5 cm, Width 2 cm
Order Number: MHSALE1

Lembata is a small island just off the eastern coast east of Flores  in the Lesser Sunda islands,  formerly known as Lomblen island. It is the largest island in a small group, which share a culture known as Lamaholot.

Unique to Lembata these earrings play an important part in marriage exchanges. The granulated ends may represent the grains seen in the head of a ripe rice stalk.

As in many of the arid areas of the Lesser Sundas, the planting of rice is limited and this favoured grain is only eaten on ritual occasions and even then is mixed with maize.

The shape is an elongated  open oval. The symbolic omega open oval form appears in a variety of ornamentation. It goes back to Neolithic Taiwan in about 500 BC in the jade earrings of the Austronesian people and is found throughout Southeast Asia and mirrors the Austronesian diaspora. The greatest variety in form and size are in Indonesia.

The form symbolises the female genitalia which itself symbolises fertility and fecundity.

There are similar examples in Ethnic Jewellery from Indonesia, Continuity and Evolution, Bruce Carpenter, Editions Didier Millet 2011, page 242.

Map of Lembata.

19th – early 20th century.

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

The post Antique Lembata Earrings appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood
Style: Lombok, Indonesia
Size: Height 17 cm, Handle: Width 15.5 cm (top), 10 cm (bottom), Length 19  cm,
Order Number: MHSLRC1

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

The handle is a naga or water dragon. The blade is missing.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lombok.

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

The post Antique Lombok Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Lombok, Indonesia
Size: Height 8 cm, Handle: Width 10 cm (top), 6 cm (bottom), Length 13  cm
Order Number: MHSLRC2

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

The handle is a bird.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lombok.

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

The post Antique Lombok Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Hand Woven Rattan
Style: Ifugao, Philippines
Size: Height 14 cm, Length  62 cm, Width  60 cm
Order Number: APTWR1

This woven rattan winnowing tray is from the Ifugao people of the Luzon Cordillera Range of the Philippines. The Ifugao people live in Ifugao province. The province is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines with an area of only 251,778 hectares (622,160 acres), or about 0.8% of the total Philippine land area. As of 1995, the population of the Ifugaos was 131,635.

Basketry was an essential part of daily life for the Ifugao for hundreds of years. They are famous  for their quality.

Ifugao farming is characterized by wet rice terraces.  They are famous for their Banaue Rice Terraces, which are one of the main tourist attractions in the country. The Spanish first described the Ifugao rice terraces in 1801. Ifugao culture revolves around rice, which is considered a prestige crop. There is an elaborate and complex array of rice culture feasts.

Ifugao baskets vary in size. Baskets are used for rice preparation, winnowing and storage of uncooked and cooked rice.

Winnowing Rice.

Low shallow trays (round or square) are used to toss pounded rice grains into the air, blowing chaff from heavier grains.

Both Ifugao men and women make baskets of bamboo, rattan, or a combination of the two.

The most common technique entails plaiting, although wickerwork, twining, and coiling are also used. Typically in plaiting, two elements are woven over and under each other at a right angle.

This tray was clearly used and has a great patina.

Map of the Philippines

There is a similar one in Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.

Early – mid-20th century.

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

The post Antique Philippines Tray for Winnowing Rice 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Hand Woven Rattan
Style: Ifugao, Philippines
Size: Height 8 cm, Length  59 cm, Width  59 cm
Order Number: APTWR2

This woven rattan winnowing tray is from the Ifugao people of the Luzon Cordillera Range of the Philippines. The Ifugao people live in Ifugao province. The province is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines with an area of only 251,778 hectares (622,160 acres), or about 0.8% of the total Philippine land area. As of 1995, the population of the Ifugaos was 131,635.

Basketry was an essential part of daily life for the Ifugao for hundreds of years. They are famous  for their quality.

Ifugao farming is characterized by wet rice terraces.  They are famous for their Banaue Rice Terraces, which are one of the main tourist attractions in the country. The Spanish first described the Ifugao rice terraces in 1801. Ifugao culture revolves around rice, which is considered a prestige crop. There is an elaborate and complex array of rice culture feasts.

Ifugao baskets vary in size. Baskets are used for rice preparation, winnowing and storage of uncooked and cooked rice.

Winnowing Rice.

Low shallow trays (round or square) are used to toss pounded rice grains into the air, blowing chaff from heavier grains.

Both Ifugao men and women make baskets of bamboo, rattan, or a combination of the two.

The most common technique entails plaiting, although wickerwork, twining, and coiling are also used. Typically in plaiting, two elements are woven over and under each other at a right angle.

This tray was clearly used and has a great patina.

Map of the Philippines

There is a similar one in Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.

Early – mid-20th century.

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

The post Antique Philippines Tray for Winnowing Rice 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Hand Woven Rattan
Style: Ifugao, Philippines
Size: Height 8 cm, Length  57 cm, Width  57 cm
Order Number: APTWR3

This woven rattan winnowing tray is from the Ifugao people of the Luzon Cordillera Range of the Philippines. The Ifugao people live in Ifugao province. The province is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines with an area of only 251,778 hectares (622,160 acres), or about 0.8% of the total Philippine land area. As of 1995, the population of the Ifugaos was 131,635.

Basketry was an essential part of daily life for the Ifugao for hundreds of years. They are famous  for their quality.

Ifugao farming is characterized by wet rice terraces.  They are famous for their Banaue Rice Terraces, which are one of the main tourist attractions in the country. The Spanish first described the Ifugao rice terraces in 1801. Ifugao culture revolves around rice, which is considered a prestige crop. There is an elaborate and complex array of rice culture feasts.

Ifugao baskets vary in size. Baskets are used for rice preparation, winnowing and storage of uncooked and cooked rice.

Winnowing Rice.

Low shallow trays (round or square) are used to toss pounded rice grains into the air, blowing chaff from heavier grains.

Both Ifugao men and women make baskets of bamboo, rattan, or a combination of the two.

The most common technique entails plaiting, although wickerwork, twining, and coiling are also used. Typically in plaiting, two elements are woven over and under each other at a right angle.

This tray was clearly used and has a great patina.

Map of the Philippines

There is a similar one in Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.

Early – mid-20th century.

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

The post Antique Philippines Tray for Winnowing Rice 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Hand Woven Rattan
Style: Ifugao, Philippines
Size: Diameter 72 cm
Order Number: APTWR4

This woven rattan winnowing tray is from the Ifugao people of the Luzon Cordillera Range of the Philippines. The Ifugao people live in Ifugao province. The province is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines with an area of only 251,778 hectares (622,160 acres), or about 0.8% of the total Philippine land area. As of 1995, the population of the Ifugaos was 131,635.

Basketry was an essential part of daily life for the Ifugao for hundreds of years. They are famous  for their quality.

Ifugao farming is characterized by wet rice terraces.  They are famous for their Banaue Rice Terraces, which are one of the main tourist attractions in the country. The Spanish first described the Ifugao rice terraces in 1801. Ifugao culture revolves around rice, which is considered a prestige crop. There is an elaborate and complex array of rice culture feasts.

Ifugao baskets vary in size. Baskets are used for rice preparation, winnowing and storage of uncooked and cooked rice.

Winnowing Rice.

Low shallow trays (round or square) are used to toss pounded rice grains into the air, blowing chaff from heavier grains.

Both Ifugao men and women make baskets of bamboo, rattan, or a combination of the two.

The most common technique entails plaiting, although wickerwork, twining, and coiling are also used. Typically in plaiting, two elements are woven over and under each other at a right angle.

This tray was clearly used and has a great patina.

Map of the Philippines

There is a similar one in Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.

Early – mid-20th century.

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

The post Antique Philippines Tray for Winnowing Rice 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Hand Woven Rattan
Style: Ifugao, Philippines
Size: Height 13 cm, Length 70 cm, Width 69 cm
Order Number: APTWR5

This woven rattan winnowing tray is from the Ifugao people of the Luzon Cordillera Range of the Philippines. The Ifugao people live in Ifugao province. The province is one of the smallest provinces in the Philippines with an area of only 251,778 hectares (622,160 acres), or about 0.8% of the total Philippine land area. As of 1995, the population of the Ifugaos was 131,635.

Basketry was an essential part of daily life for the Ifugao for hundreds of years. They are famous  for their quality.

Ifugao farming is characterized by wet rice terraces.  They are famous for their Banaue Rice Terraces, which are one of the main tourist attractions in the country. The Spanish first described the Ifugao rice terraces in 1801. Ifugao culture revolves around rice, which is considered a prestige crop. There is an elaborate and complex array of rice culture feasts.

Ifugao baskets vary in size. Baskets are used for rice preparation, winnowing and storage of uncooked and cooked rice.

Winnowing Rice.

Low shallow trays (round or square) are used to toss pounded rice grains into the air, blowing chaff from heavier grains.

Both Ifugao men and women make baskets of bamboo, rattan, or a combination of the two.

The most common technique entails plaiting, although wickerwork, twining, and coiling are also used. Typically in plaiting, two elements are woven over and under each other at a right angle.

This tray was clearly used and has a great patina.

Map of the Philippines

There is a similar one in Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University.

Early – mid-20th century.

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

The post Antique Philippines Tray for Winnowing Rice 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 6 cm, Length 9  cm, Handle: Width 15 cm (top), 8 cm (bottom)
Order Number: MHSSRC1

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lampung, Sumatra.

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

The post Antique Sumatran Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 8 cm, Length 21  cm, Handle: Width 12 cm (top), 7 cm (bottom)
Order Number: MHSSRC2

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

The blade is missing.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lampung, Sumatra.

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

The post Antique Sumatran Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Height 6 cm, Handle: Width 6 cm (top), 8.5 cm (bottom)
Order Number: MHSSRC3

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

There is a hole in the centre at the top for a stick handle. Very nice patina.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lampung, Sumatra.

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

The post Antique Sumatran Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Handle: Width 5 cm (bottom)
Order Number: MHSSRC4

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

Very nice patina.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lampung, Sumatra.

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

The post Antique Sumatran Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Handle: Width 12 cm (bottom)
Order Number: MHSSRC5

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

There is a hole in the centre at the top for a stick handle. Very nice patina.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lampung, Sumatra.

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

The post Antique Sumatran Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 5 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Wood, iron blade
Style: Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Handle: Width 4.5 cm (bottom)
Order Number: MHSSRC6

Rice is the world’s most important crop and the staple food of half the world’s population. In most parts of Indonesia rice is the staple food. Rice cultivation is accompanied by many rituals and beliefs and the tools were decorated by the rice farmers or specialists.

The fields must be kept flooded while the plants are growing. Yellow-green shoots sprout up in the silvery water. The rice grows tall and green. When the tops droop, the plants are mature and ready to harvest.

Rice cutters were used to cut the ears of rice at harvesting time. They cut the ears of grain (padi) one by one very carefully, and tried not to lose any grains. They were then tied into bundles and stored in the granary.

They used the hand knife so that it did not hurt or frighten the rice or be offensive to the rice goddess. Now rice is harvested with a sickle, but some farmers still have a special field in the corner for traditional rice and harvest it with the hand knife.

Very nice patina.

Early – mid 20th century.

Girl going home after picking rice with an ani-ani in her hair (1935).

Map of Lampung, Sumatra.

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

The post Antique Sumatran Rice Cutter Ani-Ani 6 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.