A Batak palm wine container Indonesia bamboo with a carved wood spouted cover with metal studs to...

A Batak palm wine container

Indonesia

bamboo with a carved wood spouted cover with metal studs to the edge and with incised decoration,

44.1cm high. (2)

These vessels were used to carry water or tuak, an alcoholic drink made from the fermented juice of the flowers of certain palm trees. The drink would be poured into the mouth from the spout of the cover. The lips of the drinker would never touch the vessel, allowing people of different status to drink from the same container.