Iban Tun-tun with Monkey Like Figure

Iban Tun-Tun with Monkey-Like Figure – Sarawak, Borneo

Dimensions: H 54 x 3.2 x 2 cm
Height with stand: 55.5 cm
Weight: 291 g
Material: Wood
Origin: Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
Ethnic Group: Iban

This finely carved tun-tun from the Iban people of Sarawak is both a ritual hunting charm and a practical measuring tool. Measuring 54 cm in length, it features a stylized monkey-like figure rendered with elongated limbs and a subtly expressive face — an embodiment of agility, cleverness, and spiritual potency.

Traditionally, tun-tun were used by Iban hunters to measure and set traps accurately in the forest. The length of the stick would correspond to optimal distances for setting snares or triggering mechanisms. At the same time, the carved figure served as a protective spirit or hunting charm, believed to guide and bring success to the hunter while warding off malevolent forces.

The monkey-like motif may reflect the Iban’s animist beliefs, where animals are seen as both physical beings and spiritual messengers. The piece is carved from hardwood and shows signs of age and use, lending authenticity and cultural depth.

Mounted on a custom stand, this tun-tun is not only an evocative ethnographic artifact but also a unique example of how functionality and spiritual belief intertwine in Iban material culture.

Price include custom stand and shipping by air parcel worldwide.