Antique Coco De Mer seed pod hand carved priests collection bowl
The nut and tree of the coco de mer is a rare species of palm tree native to Africa, in the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. It is the subject of various legends and lore. Coco de mer is endemic to the Seychelles islands of Praslin and Curieuse.
Before the Seychelles were discovered and settled, nuts of this species were sometimes carried by the ocean currents to distant shores, such as those of the Maldives, where the tree was unknown. The exceptional size and suggestive form of the nut, the circumstances of its discovery, and some unusual qualities of the trees have given rise to several legends.
The nut of the coco de mer is unusual in form being the shape and size of a woman's buttocks on one side, and a woman's belly and thighs on the other side. Not surprisingly, this nut was viewed by people in other parts of the world as a rare and fascinating object with mythological and even magical properties.
This particular example has been carved and formed into a two section bowl with handle. This bowl was likely used by a local priest as a collections bowl and would have been used to collect donations from the priests congregation.
An exceptional piece with beautiful sculptural quality’s and a wonderful social history aspect.
Measures 28cm x 23cm with a height of 13.5cm
Antique Coco De Mer seed pod hand carved priests collection bowl
The nut and tree of the coco de mer is a rare species of palm tree native to Africa, in the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. It is the subject of various legends and lore. Coco de mer is endemic to the Seychelles islands of Praslin and Curieuse.
Before the Seychelles were discovered and settled, nuts of this species were sometimes carried by the ocean currents to distant shores, such as those of the Maldives, where the tree was unknown. The exceptional size and suggestive form of the nut, the circumstances of its discovery, and some unusual qualities of the trees have given rise to several legends.
The nut of the coco de mer is unusual in form being the shape and size of a woman's buttocks on one side, and a woman's belly and thighs on the other side. Not surprisingly, this nut was viewed by people in other parts of the world as a rare and fascinating object with mythological and even magical properties.
This particular example has been carved and formed into a two section bowl with handle. This bowl was likely used by a local priest as a collections bowl and would have been used to collect donations from the priests congregation.
An exceptional piece with beautiful sculptural quality’s and a wonderful social history aspect.
Measures 28cm x 23cm with a height of 13.5cm
