Minangkabau Islamic Malay Brass Tobacco Containers, Sumatra

Pair of Brass & Lac Tobacco Jars with Lids

Islamic Minangkabau People, Sumatra, Indonesia

circa 1900

height: 15.3cm, diameter: 8.5cm

This pair of striking brass cannisters cast using the lost wax process have tightly fitting lids. Typically they were used to store tobacco. They are beautiful examples of Malay brassware produced by the matrilineal Islamic Minangkabau people of Sumatra, Indonesia and Negri Sembilan state of Malaysia.

The sides and lids are completely covered in typically Malay floral and foliage patterns, most likely stylised orchid motifs. Unusually, the design work has been in-filled with black lac, highlighting the fine castwork.

The pair are very decorative and provide excellent examples of Malay brasswork which is becoming increasingly difficult to find.

References

An almost identical tobacco jar (minus the lac) is illustrated in Singh, B., Malay Brassware: A Guide to the Collections, National Museum of Singapore, 1985, p. 20.

Inventory no.: 606

SOLD

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