Container, food container: patterned, dyed and natural, plaited “pandanus” container. Rectangular, slightly narrower at opening, 38 x 25 cm. “Siku keluang” is the decorative motif here meaning “bat’s elbow.” Braided loop at bottom. Used as a container for gifts to visitors (kin?) who help a family with harvest activities. Filled with rice (hulled), or “empin” (a parched pounded rice product made only with newly harvested rice) and end sewn up. Probably ritual. No activities occurred during my [Don Lambert ?] research in which containers of this sort were required. These two containers (#42 and 43) are an example of an item people claim they used to make. I [Don Lambert ?] was unable to elicit a clear description of their former use, or exact rituals involved. Cost in U.S. dollars: 1.25. (see catalogue # 18-1083)
Donor:
Donald H. Lambert and University Appropriation
Collection place:
Kampung Pesagi, Pahang, Malaysia
Culture or time period:
Malaysian
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Baskets (containers) and Plaited weaving
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama