Folk Art of Europe & Rest of World »
Rare & Exceptional Large Dragon Form Ceremonial Kasa
Ref: 6346
A rare & exceptional large kasa or bowl, superbly crafted from one piece of birchwood, this one in the form of a dragon, the tail forming twin handles for toasting and ale-drinking. It has an inscription and is dated ‘1864’, the interior has rosemalning, traditional folk painting of Norway. The tradition referred to here goes back centuries even to the Iron Age when the nordic rulers drank from the ‘kasa’ in blood rituals. If this piece looks a little like a boat too then it’s no accident, in the last half of the 19th century when archaeologists and ethnographers dug up Viking boats with dragon-figure heads & explored the imagery of the past, there was a huge interest amongst artists and intellectuals in the indigenous & '‘national’ history, top craftsmen like the one who made this piece, took their hand to reviving the folk arts. This piece has been in the private collection of more than one renowned English folk art dealer.
Norway c.1860
H: 26cm (10.2in)
W: 38cm (15.0in)
D: 32cm (12.6in)
SOLD
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