Borneo Dayak Ironwood Ceremonial Bowl With Rattan Rim and Shell

Borneo Dayak Ironwood Ceremonial Bowl with Rattan Rim and Shell

Dimensions: H 6.5 × 39.5 × 39 cm
Weight: 1.65 kg
Material: Ironwood (Belian), rattan, shell inlay
Origin: Borneo, Dayak peoples
Price include shipping worldwide by DHL

This impressive ceremonial bowl/plate is carved from a single piece of dense Bornean ironwood, locally known as Belian, a timber highly prized by the Dayak peoples for its exceptional durability and resistance to decay. The broad, shallow form is enhanced by a finely woven rattan rim that encircles the vessel, providing both structural reinforcement and decorative refinement. At its center is a shell inlay, surrounded by four stylized aso-inspired motifs, sacred designs associated with protection, strength, and the spiritual world in Dayak art.

Large plate/bowls such as this were important ritual objects within traditional Dayak communities. They were used during communal ceremonies, harvest celebrations, ancestor rites, and healing rituals. Offerings of rice, betel nut, forest produce, or sacrificial items could be presented within the bowl as gifts to ancestral spirits and protective beings.

The central shell element symbolized purity, prosperity, and a connection between the earthly and spirit realms, while the surrounding motifs invoked spiritual guardianship over the ceremony. During important gatherings in the longhouse, such vessels often occupied a prominent place, serving as both a functional container and a sacred ceremonial object.