A Fine, Late Mid Century Dayak (Borneo) Carved Ironwood Baby Carrier

Description

A Fine Dayak Carved “Benning”-Style Infant Carrier –  Borneo, Indonesia
Item Description.
A carved ironwood (est.) infant carrier, or
benning
, with three ancestor protector figures on the vertical section, a horizontal section which terminates with carved bird head & beak, and original braided bark straps created by the Dayak tribe of Borneo.  Both the wood carving and the woven straps are in fine condition.  The item does not appear to have been produced for the tourist market, but was used for its intended purpose by members of the tribe.  The surface of the wood and the straps have a nice warm patina, while the exterior and especially the interior of the carrier displays evidence of use having worn smooth.  The edges in particular, display evidence of heavy use; the wood is actually worn down where the carrier would contact the body.
Condition Details.
This item is a fine example of a
benning
; there are a few age areas of concern.  Noted are a crack at the top of the vertical board which extends down 2 inches before turning left and running for another 2 inches (when viewing the interior of the carrier; a crack in the top section of the wood just to the right of the leftmost ancestor carving’s head; a notch in the wood on the top left exterior edge; scuffing of the bottom of the carved bird heads from storage on rough surfaces; and a missing section of the left hand bird head carving (when viewed from the exterior side).
Size.
15 in. x 16 in. x 4 in.
All items in this auction are legal to buy/sell under U.S. statute covering cultural patrimony per United States Code 2600, CHAPTER 14 -- CONVENTION ON CULTURAL PROPERTY, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back