MWE026

ANTIQUE BRONZE TATTOO TAPPER HEAD (TOP PART) – NAT (SPIRIT) FIGURE – MYANMAR (BURMA) – EARLY 20TH CENTURY

THIS HAND-CAST BRONZE TATTOO TAPPER HEAD REPRESENTS A NAT (PROTECTIVE SPIRIT) FIGURE, TRADITIONALLY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER SECTION OF A TATTOOING TOOL USED BY BURMESE AND ETHNIC HILL TRIBE MASTERS. SUCH FIGURATIVE TOPS WERE BELIEVED TO INFUSE THE TOOL WITH SPIRITUAL ENERGY AND PROTECTION DURING CEREMONIAL TATTOO RITUALS.

AGE ESTIMATED FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY, POSSIBLY EARLIER. MADE OF CAST BRONZE (METAL NOT TESTED), SHOWING A RICH, NATURAL PATINA DEVELOPED OVER DECADES OF AGE AND HANDLING. THE OBJECT RETAINS FINE DETAILS IN THE HEAD AND BODY FORM, TYPICAL OF AUTHENTIC RITUAL CRAFTSMANSHIP FROM CENTRAL OR SOUTHERN MYANMAR.

THE BASE SHOWS AN OLD BREAK WHERE THE ORIGINAL CONNECTION POINT TO THE LOWER SHAFT AND NEEDLE SECTION ONCE FITTED. THIS INDICATES EARLIER CONSTRUCTION METHODS USING PRESS-FIT OR RESIN-BONDED JOINTS RATHER THAN SCREW THREADS, SUPPORTING ITS AGE AND TRADITIONAL ORIGIN.

MEASUREMENTS: L 51.5MM | W 20MM
WEIGHT: 44.41 GRM
CONDITION: VERY GOOD FOR ITS AGE – PARTLY INTACT – BASE CONNECTION MISSING – EXCELLENT PATINA – COLLECTIBLE – DISPLAYABLE – SCARCE AUTHENTIC EXAMPLE (SEE IMAGES).

CULTURAL CONTEXT: ASSOCIATED WITH TRADITIONAL TATTOO PRACTICES OF MYANMAR (BURMA), ROOTED IN ANIMIST BELIEFS AND RITUAL SYMBOLISM OF PROTECTION, COURAGE, AND SPIRITUAL POWER.

LIGHTLY CLEANED TO PRESERVE DETAIL WHILE MAINTAINING ORIGINAL PATINA.
SELL AS SINGLE PIECE (PAIR IN REFERENCE TO TWO MAIN COMPONENTS OF COMPLETE TOOL).