Dagger With Carved Sheath

ANTHROPOMORPHIC HANDLE AND ZOOMORPHIC FORK

Masuane people, Ceram Island (Seram), eastern Indonesia
XXᵉ century - Field collection

Carved wood, plant fibers, metal

Important ceremonial dagger consisting of a handle carved in the round depicting a stylized human figure with refined features, arms folded against the torso in a protective or contemplative posture.

The handle, deeply patinated, shows regular wear consistent with ancient and prolonged handling. A braided plant-fiber ligature joins the scabbard.

The carved wooden scabbard is one of the most remarkable elements of the set. Its openwork front features a complex geometric decoration combining radiating motifs, stylized anthropomorphic forms and symbolic elements probably linked to local beliefs.

The lower part ends with an open-mouthed carved animal head, evoking a crocodile or a large varan - a recurring figure in the symbolic systems of Eastern Indonesian cultures, associated with protective power and the spiritual world.

The metal blade, now oxidized, retains a simple, functional silhouette typical of Ceram ritual production, where the ceremonial and symbolic value of the object largely prevails over the technical sophistication of the forge.

The ensemble develops a particularly strong sculptural presence, reinforced by the quality of the patina and the balance between human and zoomorphic forms.

Ceremonial daggers from Ceram's Masuane groups occupy a singular place in the traditions of Eastern Indonesia.

Well beyond their utilitarian function, they intervene as objects of prestige, markers of authority and mediators between the visible world and spiritual forces.

The association of a protective anthropomorphic figure and a predatory animal figure reflects a dual conception of power: human mastery and supernatural power combined in a single object.

By the richness of its carved iconography and its strongly embodied character, this specimen ranks among the most evocative ceremonial productions from the Ceram region.

PROVENANCE

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection
Collected in situ during field missions in eastern Indonesia.

PUBLISHED

Example reproduced in:

TRIBES - The First People
VILO Editions

The set is accompanied by:
- a copy of the book,
- as well as an original photographic print numbered and signed by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, made during his field missions among the Ceram people.

The dialogue between the object, its publication and the photographic testimony gives this set a documentary and curatorial dimension that is particularly rare on the primitive arts market.