Zoom on the anthropomorphic spirit figure finial, hand-cast bronze from the late 1800s, showing fine ceremonial detailing.
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  • Zoom on the anthropomorphic spirit figure finial, hand-cast bronze from the late 1800s, showing fine ceremonial detailing.
  • Disassembled parts of the tribal tattoo tapper: bronze finial, iron tube, and needle, laid out side by side.
  • Side-by-side comparison of the assembled tapper and its separated parts, demonstrating how the components fit together.
  • MSI664
  • MSI664
  • Top-down view of the fully assembled antique tattooing instrument from Myanmar, ritual item from the highland ethnic groups.
  • Full-length display of the antique tattooing instrument, ceremonial and spiritual tool from pre-Buddhist traditions of Myanmar.
  • Detail of the iron middle tube, cylindrical form with patina, connecting the spiritual finial to the functional needle.
  • MSI664
  • Horizontal profile of the complete tribal tattoo tapper tool, with aged patina and three-part assembly.
  • Side view of the original bronze tattoo needle used by Shan or Chin tribes, late 19th to early 20th century.
  • Close-up of antique bronze tattooing needle from Myanmar, detached from the tapper set, showing fine casting and pointed tip.
  • MSI664

MSI664

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OLD BRONZE TATTOO TAPPER NEEDLE (HNITKWASOK) WITH NAT (SPIRIT) A ZAWGYI (MAGICIAN) ON TOP – GENUINE – ORIGINAL – HAND CASTING – MYANMAR (BURMA) – OLD TRADITION OF TATTOO

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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.

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