"Cotton Gin With Ancestral Figures, Timor"
In Timor, textiles are traditionally woven from locally grown cotton, spun by hand on spindles. Wooden gins extract the seeds from the sun-dried raw cotton bolls. This instrument is decorated with figures, probably ancestral weavers who have passed their skills down from generation to generation. Both sides are carved identically and the uprights feature traditional East Timorese diamond patterns. Carved from very hard wood, with a well-even patina. Perfect working condition, 19th century. Provenance: Claude de Marteau Collection. Sold with certificate of provenance. H 37 cm x W 45 cm (overall) x D 11 cm. See this cotton gin with ancestral figures, Timor in full screen mode on Vintage Addict 
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