Dayak Ceremonial Mortar For Antidote

Dayak Ceremonial Mortar for Snakebite Antidote

Dayak Ceremonial Mortar (Lesung Ubat Bisa Ular)
Hardwood
Dimensions: H 11 × 10 × 33 cm
Weight: 2.028 kg

Carved from a dense hardwood and sculpted in the form of a powerful mythological creature, this remarkable Dayak ceremonial mortar served as both a practical medicinal tool and a vessel of spiritual protection. The elongated body combines the features of a water buffalo with a serpent coiling around a central cavity, creating a symbolic union of earthly strength and supernatural power.

The hollowed bowl on the creature’s back was used by traditional healers and shamans to grind medicinal roots, bark, leaves, and forest herbs into remedies. Among its most important functions was the preparation of antidotes and protective medicines for snakebites, a constant danger for communities living deep within Borneo’s rainforests. The serpent motif carved around the vessel is especially significant, embodying mastery over the very force it was intended to combat.

The rattan ring passing through the nostrils suggests the object may have been suspended or displayed within a healer’s house, where it served not only as a medicinal implement but also as a protective talisman. Such carvings were believed to attract benevolent ancestral spirits while repelling harmful influences that could hinder healing.

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