Tribal Bench from Nagaland

Dating anywhere from 80-120 years old, this rare sculptural bench from the hill tribes of Nagaland is hewn from a single massive timber and worn to a deep, burnished patina by generations of life. Asymmetry and irregular cuts highlight the hand of the maker and carved skulls at each end suggest protection or ancestral presence. These could be attributed to Konyak or neighboring Naga groups where ancestral and warrior symbolism was common in furniture and architectural carving. Both utilitarian and ceremonial, this very special museum-quality piece is not only stunning to look at but representative of life lived close to the land.