This beautiful bottle was carved by hand by local artisans on the island of Sumba in Indonesia, made as per ancient techniques.

It’s made out of a pumpkin with a carved wooden tap depicting a human face in honour to the Marapu – the ancestral spirits of Sumba. The human face is an invitation for the Marapu to move inside the bottle and guide and protect it’s owner through life. Bottles like these were used to store water during long journeys.

Since ancient times Marapu is the major animistic/ancestral religion practiced in Sumba. The Marapu are believed to be the occupants of the eternal heaven, living in couples and leading a similar existence to men.

The bottle comes complete on a black metal stand and its story printed out for you inside a beautiful envelope. Being artisan crafted, every piece is an original, showcasing the natural beauty of the materials with organic imperfections. The color of the pumpkins vary from caramel to darker browns. The handmade metal support carries its own authenticity, with subtle imperfections and the potential for a natural patina to emerge over time.

Dimensions including the metal support: heights vary between ca 32 and 36cm. The pumpkin diameters vary between ca 13 – 15cm.