Featured Tribal Head Hunter Pot?

I have acquired this old ceramic pot decorated with monkey skulls. Searches indicate it could be a tribal head hunter's pot. Can anyone confirm?

 

I have never seen one before, but since the pot itself looks antique Provincial Chinese, I assume the combination is Dayak, from Borneo.

Antique Chinese ceramics can be found all over Indonesia, and are often considered very important and/or sacred, especially to tribal cultures like the Dayak.
Antique Jatim (East Javanese) trade beads like these are also found all over the islands.
The Dayak also often adorn items with monkey skulls and teeth, even more so for the tourist trade.

Whether your pot - monkey skulls combination is traditional or made for the exotic tastes of Western travellers or export, I don't know.
Maybe @2manybooks can tell us more.

 

Thank you!

 

it looks overdone to have any use other than a trade item...imo

 

Call Indiana Jones.

 

I have not seen similar, and can't find a comparison. It does seem to be the kind of thing that might be concocted for sale.

 

Thanks for responding! Yes its probably made for the tourist trade, but I've done numerous searches and can't find another like it. The pot is old and the whole thing is very dirty - looks like smoke residue so it's obviously been around for quite some time

 

There are many ways to make it look old and dirty. So much dirt is usually a red flag, a pot for ritual use is likely to be well-cared for. It is one of the reasons why I have my doubts.

I do believe the Chinese Provincial pot on its own is 19th century.

 

Where did you acquire it? Was it accompanied by any information?

Does it smell like smoke? (Although this, too, can be applied.)

The use of monkey skulls, rather than human remains of any sort, could be another clue that it was assembled for sale. Trade in human remains has become more problematic.

 

I acquired it at an auction so no idea where it originally came from.

 

an auction in Perth..... Dallas , ... Crete......Seattle , Uganda.......???????????