Dayak Iban Tun-tun With Figure

This Iban tun tun charm is a traditional spiritual object used by the Dayak Iban people of Borneo. Carved from a single piece of dark hardwood—likely belian (ironwood)—the staff features a prominent anthropomorphic figure seated in a contemplative pose at the top. The figure’s hands rest against its cheeks or jaw, possibly mimicking the action of calling or luring, a symbolic gesture tied to the charm’s purpose in hunting and spiritual communication.

The tun tun functions as both a hunting charm and a measuring stick, often employed in the setting and calibration of animal traps. It is believed to lure small game through spiritual means, invoking ancestral assistance or forest spirits. The figure is rendered in a stylized yet expressive form, with simplified anatomical details that emphasize posture and presence rather than realism.

The overall shaft is long and slender, with subtle rings and contours along its body, ending in a pointed base traditionally meant for insertion into the ground. The upright pose of the figure and the quiet strength of the carving reflect the dual role of the tun tun—a practical hunting tool and a spiritual mediator between the human and unseen worlds.

H – 51.5 x 3.5 x 2 cm

Height with Base – 54.5 cm / 274 g

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