Tattoo Pattern

Flat piece of wood carved to leave a pattern in high relief. The block is inked and pressed onto the skin as a guide for the tattooing. Similar to a pattern identified by Furness as a Kenyah design "'kala asu,' the scorpion dog, - on the forearm," and by Hose and Shelford as a "Kayan dog design for thighs of men." An even closer match with a design illustrated by Nieuwenhuis as used by Kayan men of the Mendalam River. Two different versions of the design carved on front and back of block.