Late 19th C. Indonesian Toraja Wooden Granary Door

About Auction

Live

Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Sep 27, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-09-27 10:00:00 2018-09-27 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3469
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (390)

• Lot Description
  Southeast Asia, Indonesia, South Sulawesi Island, Toraja culture, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A finely-built square granary door, hand-carved from dense jackfruit wood, with an abstract buffalo head, horns, and one ear in high relief; the other ear is present but worn. One side features two small dowels protruding from the top and bottom of one side used to secure the pivoting end in a recessed groove on the verso. The weathered surface has a lovely marbled appearance to it, with sections of dark-brown interwoven with pale-beige hues on the front side, and the back is semi-smooth with lustrous chocolate-brown hues gracing the surfaces. Size: 17" W x 21.5" H (43.2 cm x 54.6 cm).
  
  The Toraja are one of the oldest ethnic groups in all of Indonesia, though they did not view themselves as an ethnic group until the early 20th century. The Dutch colonial government named the people “Toraja” in 1909 as a means of identifying which ethnic groups they controlled during the period of Dutch colonization. The word “Toraja” comes from the Bugis Buginese language term “to riaja,” meaning “people of the uplands.” Torajans are renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, burial sites carved into rocky cliffs, massive and traditional peaked-roof houses known as tongkonan, and colorful wood carvings.
  
  Doors like these provided passage between two rooms in a Torajan house. Behind the door was a special room (known as a “sumbung”) used to lay out the dead before funerals. The likeness of a buffalo was oftentimes used on these doors as an auspicious symbol due to their defensive natures and adamant dispositions, and the staff between the horns is symbolic of protection or defense for the dwelling and those within.
  
  Provenance: private Johnson collection, Marina Del Rey, California, USA
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #131789

  Condition

  Expected age-commensurate surface wear and abrasions, some cracking and chips to interior surfaces and peripheries, with some discoloration due to weathering and light water damage, otherwise excellent. Light earthen and mineral deposits throughout.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %