Two Carved Wood Fertility Charms by the Iban Dayak People from Samarinda, Borneo dating to the late 19th

dating to the late 19th or early 20th Century

Condition: The netsuke is carved from ivory that has been deliberately stained

3cm diameter)

mould or restoration

brooches that were commissioned by a jeweller often represented the personal connection the wearer would have to music or harmony

Two Carved Wood Fertility Charms by the Iban Dayak People from Samarinda, Borneo dating to the late 19thTwo whimsical yet symbolically charged fertility charms, crafted by the Iban people of Samarinda, Borneo (Indonesia). Finely hand carved from mangrove wood, each elongated figure presents an overtly erotic male form tenderly holding a child, blending humour with themes of virility and protection. One example is further distinguished by the presence of a bay cat perched upon the figures head facing backward, symbolising protection from all angles.