An ancient and very beautiful divination plate engraved on both sides, which was used with a magic book (pustaha). The Batak culture is the only tribal society in all of Southeast Asia to have a script, derived from Sanskrit. See : Primitive Arts of Southeast Asia, Alain and Françoise Chaffin, p. 58. Batak, Sumatra Water buffalo rib bone, superb patina of use. H. 18 cm Provenance : Anne and Jacques Kerchache Collection.