Items Similar to Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm
Bamboo 1950’s Sasak
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 19
Folk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm
Bamboo 1950’s Sasak
$1,134.02
£830
€974.84
CA$1,575.50
A$1,694.67
CHF 905.68
MX$19,975.34
NOK 11,418.52
SEK 10,438.69
DKK 7,283.68
About the Item
Sasak Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie
Painted Palm 1950’s
Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry of the Sasak people. Crafted from lontar palm leaf panels (Borassus flabellifer) bound with bamboo strips (Bambusa vulgaris), each box is elaborately decorated with geometric motifs in natural pigments and inlaid with cowrie shells (Monetaria moneta or Monetaria annulus) – symbols of prosperity and protection.
The Sasak people are the indigenous ethnic majority of Lombok, closely related to Balinese culture but predominantly Muslim, with a rich heritage that blends Islamic practice with pre-Islamic animist traditions. Their society is rooted in rice agriculture, weaving, and ceremonial arts. Marriage rituals, in particular, hold great significance, with dowry exchanges symbolising family honour, prosperity, and the continuity of cultural traditions. These dowry boxes, known locally as keraroq or keben, were used to present gifts such as betel nut sets, jewellery, and heirloom textiles to the groom’s family.
Today, these boxes’ striking colours, tribal symbolism, and rhythmic shell patterns make them powerful decorative statements in modern interiors.
Uses today include styling as a sculptural object on consoles or floor displays, adding warmth and story; for storage of scarves, jewellery, or keepsakes in bedrooms and dressing rooms; as an accent in bohemian, Wabi-Sabi, or global-inspired interiors; or grouped in sets for maximum impact, stacked to create a low side table with history.
Care and preservation: Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture, as prolonged exposure can cause colours to fade and palm fibres to become brittle. Dust gently with a dry cloth; avoid using oils, sprays, or moisture-based cleaning products, which can weaken the woven structure over time. Handle with care to protect the intricate cowrie inlays and painted surfaces.
Origin: Lombok, Indonesia
Date: Circa 1950’s
Materials: Lontar palm leaf (Borassus flabellifer), bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris), natural pigments, cowrie shells (Monetaria moneta / Monetaria annulus)
Dimensions: [Insert each box’s dimensions individually]
Condition: Beautifully aged patina with minor wear and loss consistent with age and ritual use. Some variation in shell inlay patterns, adding to authenticity.
Authentic Sasak lontar dowry boxes of this era are increasingly rare. Each is unique in its symbolism, reflecting the weaver’s hand and the family’s ceremonial life. These are pieces that carry stories across generations and borders, ready to ground modern spaces with cultural meaning and timeless beauty.
We endeavour to find the best shipping solutions for our clients worldwide. Please contact us for accurate shipping quotes to your location.
Follow our page to see our latest pieces as soon as they are listed.
- Dimensions:Height: 11.03 in (28 cm)Width: 19.69 in (50 cm)Depth: 14.18 in (36 cm)
- Style:Folk Art (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950’s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor structural damages. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2868345782102
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2015
1stDibs seller since 2017
202 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Maldon, United Kingdom
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllFolk Art Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm
Bamboo 1950’s Sasak
Located in London, GB
Sasak Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie & Painted Palm 1950’s
Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry of...
Category
Vintage 1920s Indonesian Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Materials
Other
Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm
Bamboo 1950’s
Located in London, GB
Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Sasak, Cowrie & Painted Palm 1950’s
Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry o...
Category
Vintage 1920s Indonesian Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Materials
Other
Indonesian Painted Buffalo, Cow Bell Decorative Folk Art Sculpture, wall art
Located in London, GB
Antique Indonesian Buffalo Racing Cowbell Painted Wood with Rope Handle
Discover this antique Indonesian buffalo racing cowbell, traditionally strapped around the necks of water bu...
Category
Vintage 1910s Indonesian Folk Art Mounted Objects
Materials
Wood
Indonesian Painted Buffalo, Cow Bell Decorative Folk Art Sculpture, wall art
Located in London, GB
Antique Indonesian Buffalo Racing Cowbell Painted Wood with Rope Handle
Discover this antique Indonesian buffalo racing cowbell, traditionally strapped around the necks of water bu...
Category
Vintage 1910s Indonesian Folk Art Mounted Objects
Materials
Wood
Hand Carved Folk art Balinese teak door, original frame late 19th -early 20th C
Located in London, GB
Rare Antique Balinese Carved Teak Door in Original Frame, circa 1900
A rare antique Balinese carved teak door with its complete original frame, dati...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Balinese Folk Art Doors and Gates
Materials
Teak
Wabi-Sabi sculptural, monumental Wooden Bowl, Indonesia late 19th century
Located in London, GB
Wabi-Sabi Lombok Wooden Rice Mortar Bowl, Late 19th–Early 20th Century
A monumental hand-carved wooden rice mortar bowl from Lombok, Indonesia, dating from the late 19th to early 20...
Category
Antique 1890s Indonesian Folk Art Decorative Bowls
Materials
Wood
You May Also Like
Personal size Betel Nut Box, Maranao, Southern Philippines (Mindanao)
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Personal size Betel Nut Box, Maranao, Southern Philippines (Mindanao).
A mixed metal box having a brass body with bordered silver inlay design overall of a symmetrical floral tendril...
Category
Early 20th Century Philippine Tribal Metalwork
Materials
Silver, Brass
Box with a corrugated, embossed, polychrome wooden core Colonial work Perú
Located in Madrid, España
Box with a corrugated, embossed, polychrome wooden core and leaf decoration. Iron lock and hinges with key, the interior lined with a marbled effect. Colonial work from the Viceroyal...
Category
Antique Mid-17th Century Peruvian Antiquities
Materials
Leather, Wood
Javanese Solid Teak Storage Box with Engravings Mid-20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This teak storage box comes for the Island of Java, Indonesia. Dating to the Mid-20th Century it was crafted from a single block of teak. It features ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Tribal Art
Materials
Teak
Antique Rajasthani Footed Chest Box India 1900
s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Rajasthani Shekhawati Merchant's Footed Chest Box India 1900's.
Early 20th Century Indian carved wood storage cash footed box used by merchants in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Hand-Painted Chest Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Impressive hand-painted Folk Art box from the Late 19th Century. The box has been hand-painted in black, red, blues and green. There appears to be either twos horses or maybe unicorn...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Medium Betel Nut Box, Maranao, Southern Philippines (Mindanao)
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Medium Betel Nut Box, Maranao, Southern Philippines (Mindanao).
Bronze/Brass with bordered silver inlay design overall of a symmetrical floral tendril vine pattern referred to as “th...
Category
Early 20th Century Philippine Tribal Metalwork
Materials
Silver, Brass
