An ancient bënning baby carrier with finely engraved decorations, traditionally made in two parts, one horizontal to support the baby for sitting, the other adorned with two shells embodying a gaze to hold and protect it. The most common kenyah (Dayak) baby carriers are covered with beadwork motifs, while rarer ones are carved with faces, and some even rarer ones have, in addition to faces with shell-encrusted eyes, uprights carved with figures. See p.90 and 91 in: Barbier, Indonesian Primitiv Art, Dallas Museum of Art,1984. Kenyah-Dayak, Kalimantan, West Central Region of Borneo Island Hardwood, shell (possibly replaced), cord, visible wear, small dents and accidents, lower part unfortunately truncated in front, otherwise very fine old patina. Height: 32cm Provenance: Evrard de Rouvre Collection Évrard de Rouvre Collection Passed down through generations