Batak medicinal bottle – Indonesia – terracotta with carved wooden stopper – 19th century

Antique Batak Medicinal Bottle – Indonesia – Terracotta with Carved Wooden Stopper – 19th/20th Century


Authentic medicinal bottle of Batak origin, from Indonesia (Sumatra), dating from the late 19th or early 20th century. This type of container was used by datu (traditional healers) to store medicinal or ritual substances.


The bottle is made of glazed terracotta, with a carved wooden stopper depicting a stylized figure mounted on an animal (probably a buffalo or deer), a motif frequently found in Batak iconography associated with power and the spiritual world. The carving possesses great symbolic power and a typical antique patina.


Dimensions:
Total height: 14.5 cm
Base diameter: 4.7 cm
Weight: 130 grams


Good overall condition for its age. Original patina preserved, normal wear consistent with age. The stopper fits perfectly into the bottle. Notable detail: one eye is inlaid (glass or horn), the other hollow (likely an old loss or a traditional aesthetic choice).


Origin: Batak people, Sumatra Island, Indonesia
Estimated period: late 19th / early 20th century


An authentic, rare, and expressive collector's item, ideal for enthusiasts of tribal art, ethnography, or traditional Southeast Asian medicine.


Carefully packaged and shipped with reinforced protection.


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