Description:

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Sumba Island, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A sculptural cotton board known as a kabiru, carved from a single plank of dark, dense wood and shaped as a simplified standing human figure. The form features a rounded head, incised facial features, and a broad torso, with short legs and arms suggested in low relief. The stomach surface shows a smooth, timeworn patina created through repeated handling and use. Kabiru boards were traditionally used to pound and soften cotton fibers before spinning, a vital preparatory step in the production of handwoven textiles central to social and ritual life. Textiles function as carriers of lineage, status, and ancestral memory, and they play a central role in ceremonies and life-cycle exchanges. Size: 16.5" L x 6.5" W (41.9 cm x 16.5 cm)

Provenance: private Rogers, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Bosio collection, Miami, Florida, USA, 1960-2000

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#200294

  • Condition: Stable pressure fissures radiating from the neck and torso. Small bore holes from old inactive insect activity. Surface is very smooth from use in cotton processing.

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February 26, 2026 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 + $1,000