MSI664

OLD BRONZE TATTOO TAPPER NEEDLE (HNITKWASOK) WITH ANTHROPOMORPHIC FINIAL A ZAWGYI (MAGICIAN) – SHAN OR CHIN TRIBE – LATE 19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY – GENUINE, ORIGINAL, HAND-CAST – MYANMAR (BURMA)

THIS FINELY CAST TRIBAL TATTOOING IMPLEMENT FEATURES A STYLIZED HUMAN FIGURE WITH RAISED ARMS HOLDING A WAND AT THE TOP ZAWGYI (MAGICIAN), LIKELY REPRESENTING A PROTECTIVE SPIRIT OR NAT AND ACTING AS WEIGHT TO DRIVE THE NEEDLE AND INK UNDER THE SKIN. ROOTED IN ANCIENT ANIMIST TRADITIONS THAT PREDATE THE SPREAD OF THERAVĀDA BUDDHISM IN MYANMAR, SUCH FIGURES WERE BELIEVED TO EMPOWER THE OBJECT WITH SPIRITUAL PROTECTION. TATTOO TAPPERS LIKE THIS WERE TRADITIONALLY USED BY TATTOO MASTERS—ESPECIALLY AMONG THE SHAN OR CHIN PEOPLES OF MYANMAR’S HIGHLAND REGIONS—IN RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH RITES OF PASSAGE, SPIRITUAL DEFENSE, AND MARKING IDENTITY OR SOCIAL STATUS.

THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND SYMBOLIC DETAIL SUGGEST CEREMONIAL USE. THIS RARE AND AUTHENTIC PIECE OFFERS A WINDOW INTO THE CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF BURMA’S TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
TODAY, MYANMAR IS FACING SEVERE TURMOIL, TORN APART BY WAR AND UNREST. AS A RESULT, MUCH OF ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE HAS BEEN LOST FOREVER. THESE HISTORICAL MILESTONES ARE NOW RARELY SEEN AND ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY SCARCE.

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DETAILS:

ORIGIN: MYANMAR (BURMA), SHAN OR CHIN TRIBE
PERIOD: LATE 19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURY
MATERIALS:
TOP FINIAL (NAT/SPIRIT): BRONZE
NEEDLE: BRONZE
MIDDLE TUBE: IRON (MAY DEVELOP SURFACE RUST WITH AGE)
PARTS: 3 DETACHABLE COMPONENTS
TOP FINIAL: 13 CM (L) X 7 CM (W) X 2.5 CM (D)
MIDDLE TUBE: 17 CM (L) X 1.1 CM (DIAMETER)
NEEDLE: 12 CM (L) X 1 CM (DIAMETER)
FULLY ASSEMBLED DIMENSIONS: 37 CM (L) X 7 CM (W) X 2.5 CM (D)
WEIGHT: 254.30 GRAMS
CONDITION: EXEPTIONALLY FINE FOR IT AGE. THESE DO NOT COME BY SO OFTEN, ALL PARTS ARE COMPLETE AND FIT TOGETHER PROPERLY. LIGHTLY CLEANED TO PRESERVE FINE DETAIL WHILE MAINTAINING THE ORIGINAL PATINA. THE IRON TUBE MAY EXHIBIT MINOR OXIDATION CONSISTENT WITH AGE.

NOTES:

A SINGLE COMPLETE SET OF THREE PARTS.
A REMARKABLE PIECE OF ETHNOGRAPHIC AND RITUAL ARTISTRY.
⚠️ CAUTION: CONTAINS SHARP COMPONENTS. HANDLE WITH CARE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.