Curious Antiques

Description

Very rare pair of large carved tribal doors from the Toraja tribal area, Sulawesi, Indonesia, c1850. The Toraja live in a mountainous area of South Sulawesi island .Most probably old doors from an ancestral house (Tongkonan) or rice granary doors, these are particularly large (almost 5 feet tall) , very heavy and well carved examples seldom seen in the UK. The doors are beautifully carved in high relief with a central figure holding a chicken, standing on the head of a water buffalo holding onto the animal's horn. There are further smaller depictions of water buffalo above the central motif. The traditional Toraja religion, known as 'aluk to dolo' venerates the water buffalo as their most auspicious animal totem and at great funerals and other ceremonies they are sacrificed to accompany the dead to the next world. This depiction is therefore highly symbolic and the quality of the doors indicates they would have been prestige pieces highly valued by the Toraja. Overall condition is very good and the wood has a lovely rice deep colour. At some point hooks have been attached to the rear to enable the doors to be hung on the wall. These are large ,highly decorative pieces that would display very well in any home.

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Size: 148cm tall x 56cm wide x 8cm deep, weight approximately 40 kgs the pair.