Trunk; Indonesia, 20th century.

Trunk; Indonesia, 20th century.
Camphor wood.
Measurements: 38 x 73,5 x 35 cm.
Indonesian trunk made of camphor wood, highly appreciated in Southeast Asia for its resistance and its characteristic fragrance. The piece of furniture is presented as a compact, almost architectural volume, whose surface is transformed into a continuous field of ornamentation.
The front and lid are richly carved with figurative scenes and vegetal motifs, where dragons, landscapes and symbolic elements intertwine in a dynamic composition deeply rooted in the local visual tradition. The carving, with a strong line and marked relief, does not seek western academic symmetry, but an enveloping and narrative effect, inviting the viewer to "read" the surface of the object.
Although dated in the 20th century, the trunk refers to much older typologies and formal languages, linked to both ceremonial furniture and prestigious domestic chests.