ETERNAL LIFE AND LOVE

This beautiful set includes a set of 2 scarab stone statues and a large round dowry sculpture, complete with the blackened metal stands.

The scarabs were hand carved by Chinese artisans on the island of Java, made with ancient techniques. Chinese people and their descendants have lived in the Indonesian archipelago since at least the 13th century, where they are an important part of the population and culture. Through the millenniums the love and tradition of the scarab has travelled the world. For the Chinese the scarab has been an important symbol of creation, resurrection, or new life since antiquity. They also believed that beetles were impregnated by the wind. The scarab is one of the most iconic amulets in the world, incorporated in jewelry, for seals, protecting mummies and more. The ancient Egyptians believed that the god Khepri renewed the sun every day, before rolling it above the horizon, then carried it through the other world after sunset, only to renew it again on the next day. He was often depicted as a scarab-headed man, since scarabs were also seen to roll across the sun. Scarabs were often found inscribed with the names of Pharaohs and sometimes with the names of their queens and other members of the royal family.

The dowry statue was hand carved in black river stone as per ancient techniques by local artisans on the island of Papua.
It’s shaped like a coin to symbolize prosperity. Statues like these were used in marriage proposals since the people of Papua believed that the marriage would be as sturdy as the stone they used as the dowry.
Dowry is an ancient custom that continue to be expected and demanded as a condition to accept a marriage proposal in Papua. It’s a transfer of parental property, gifts, or money at the marriage of a daughter, transferred from the bride's family to the groom or his family. The custom of dowry is most common in cultures that expect women to reside with or near their husband's family. 

The suite comes complete with the stories of the artefacts printed out for you inside a beautiful envelope. Being artisan crafted with organic materials, each piece is slightly different containing beautiful, natural imperfections. Books not included.

DIMENSIONS INCLUDING THE BLACKENED METAL SUPPORTS:

• The set of 2 scarabs: ca 25 x 6,5 and heights 32,5 and 26cm
• The dowry statue: ca 40 x 52cm