Featured Is this a Toraja box?

I got this carved wood and buffalo horn box ridiculously cheap. I like it, and think it is Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
It seems to have a bit of age, maybe early 20th century? It has also seen use, there is some brownish goo stuck to the inside. Only the horn part is hollow.

But I would like some more eyes on it to see if it actually is Toraja, since it is not my area of expertise. Tagging @Taupou and @2manybooks , but everyone's help is welcome of course.

Lighter in one of the pics for size.
Thank you for looking.

 

Love the expression on the cows face!. Is the centre bit carved horn?

 

That is one of the things I liked, as if it is saying "who, me?"

Yes.

 

It slightly looks like it’s been on the magic mushrooms with those spiral eyes or one of those cartoon characters after something has landed on its head .
Do these boxes have a specific use or just ...err...boxes for stuff?

 

I think it is just trying to look innocent after doing something stupid.

I have no idea, this is the first one of its kind I have seen. It has brown goo stuck to the inside, I suppose that is herbal or some kind of tree sap. Most people would probably call it a medicine box, but I generally don't call it that until I know for sure.

The Toraja love buffaloes, and often depict the buffalo heads kind of flattened. The scrollwork on the side also looks Toraja to me.

 

Well, please don’t try to sample that brown goo JUST in case it’s some sort of OLD hallucinogenic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We Love you HERE and WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Don't worry, I never sample old brown goo.

 

I would agree with your attribution. The scrollwork design looks like one I considered getting tattooed around my wrist, after perusing some books on tribal Indonesian arts, and an anthropologist in the department who did fieldwork in Toraja recognized it.

This dealer has similar pieces, and seems to know what he/she is talking about:


https://www.borneoartifact.com/product/jewellery-box/

 

Thanks, 2many.
Did you ever get a wrist tattoo?

Ah yes, they call it a medicine box (tempat obat).
I prefer my box though, the carving is nicely rounded and very tactile.
I believe the sellers are in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, so not that far from Sulawesi. Mind you, they have been known to attribute Madurese keris to Bali.

 

I like yours better, too.

No, no tattoo. Never found the right opportunity and an artist I would trust. Life is not over yet, though.

 

Stylish Bic's you have over there in the Netherlands

 

it's electronic...no flint wheel.....

 

We have this great deal with the French, we send them our best oysters, and they send us stylish Bic lighters in return.