Fine Old Paiwan Spoons the Indigenous Tribes Taiwan Formosa Island

Fine Old Paiwan Spoons the Indigenous Tribes Taiwan Formosa Island

This pair of beautiful old carved wood Spoons is from either the Paiwan Tribe or other related original indigenous people of  Taiwan, in earlier times Taiwan was known as Formosa Island.  Dating from the late 19th Century and very rare.

These finely carved spoons are in the form of male & female ancestor figures. The male figure is naked and wearing a peaked hat and the female figure is shown wearing a textile dress,

There are several indigenous tribes living the mountainous interior of Taiwan. Their societies are hierarchical, divided into high nobles, minor nobility, and commoners. In former times, only the high nobility was entitled to create or commission certain forms of human images, which portrayed important ancestors (tsmas). The ancestors, whose supernatural influence was controlled by the nobility, had the power to either help or harm the community, depending on whether their spirits received proper respect through ritual observances and offerings. The houses of Paiwan nobles were both the physical and artistic centres of ancestral power and imagery.

These spoons are on very fine custom stands that show the ancestor figure in their best manner.

Have a good look at the other Paiwan or Rukai Tribes’ artworks on my website.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art & Asian Arts

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