Trunk; Indonesia, c. 1900.

Chest; Indonesia, c. 1900.
Carved wood.
Measurements: 23.5 x 62 x 45 cm.
This Indonesian trunk from around 1900 is part of the rich tradition of craftsmanship of the archipelago, where furniture transcends its utilitarian function to become a narrative and symbolic support. Carved entirely in wood, it presents a careful ornamental composition that runs around the perimeter of the body with a rhythmic scene of elephants in procession, a motif associated in Southeast Asia with prosperity, strength and protection.
The decoration, executed in low relief and of sure stroke, dialogues with the sobriety of the general volume, of smoothly curved lines and balanced proportions. The central medallion on the upper plane acts as a focal point, providing visual hierarchy and reinforcing the ceremonial reading of the object.
Contextualized at the turn of the century, this trunk responds to a time of special interest in local decorative arts, both in the Indonesian domestic sphere and in the international market.