Kettle decorated with armed warriors
- DATE:
- 18th–early 19th century
- MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE:
- Bronze (copper alloy)
- CLASSIFICATION:
- Containers
- DIMENSIONS:
- Overall: 10 1/4 x 13 3/8 x 9 in. (26.03 x 33.97 x 22.86 cm.)
- DEPARTMENT:
- Arts of the Pacific Islands
- LOCATION:
- Arts of the Pacific Islands - Indonesia , Level 3
- CREDIT LINE:
- Dallas Museum of Art, the Roberta Coke Camp Fund
- COPYRIGHT:
- Image courtesy Dallas Museum of Art
- OBJECT NUMBER:
- 1994.249
General Description
This cast bronze kettle from Brunei is decorated with symbols that reflected Dayak ideas about wealth, prestige, and even supernatural power. The two large seated figures holding swords at the base of the handle represent warriors. Among the Dayak, swords were not only weapons but also status objects that figured prominently in rituals. The smaller warrior-figure on the lid sits astride a horse, an animal unknown to people of the interior and thus ascribed mythic attributes. Such kettles were treasured heirlooms that were used to serve drinking water during weddings or other important festivals.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, 2013.