Buffalo skull (Indonesia): entirely carved
PU802
The water buffalo is a massive animal used in Asia as a domesticated animal, for milk but especially for pulling carts or ploughing. It is an animal endowed with great strength, and which spends a lot of time in the water, hence its name. The Bubalus Bubalis is of course perfectly adapted to the cultivation of rice. Only about 3500 individuals remain in the wild. This animal can wear imposing horns, and it is both venerated, but also sacrificed during funeral ceremonies, which sometimes take place several years after the death of the person: the time to gather the money for several buffaloes. The skulls are kept and used to decorate the facade of traditional houses throughout Indonesia. Today the carved patterns are also inspired by the tattoo motifs. This is the case for this one, carved even on the horns.
