Southeast Asia, Indonesia, South Sulawesi Island, Toraja culture, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A finely-built, rectangular granary door, hand-carved with the stylized head of a water buffalo boasting a symmetrical, minimalist form that is quite pleasing to the eye. Shown in relief, the bovine head displays a flared snout with incised nostrils flanked by petaloid ears, all surmounted by a pair of huge, curved horns that flare magnificently outward forming the shape of a heart. The vertical axis extending above the head and going up to the end of the horns would be a form of representation of the Tree of Life. Wood carvings of buffalo such as this one served as a wish of wealth for the family. One side features two petite dowels protruding from the top and bottom of one side used to secure the pivoting end in a recessed groove on the verso. A square hole perforates through the center of the door perhaps allowing for a handle or another implement. Size: 21.1" L x 2" W x 40.1" H (53.6 cm x 5.1 cm x 101.9 cm)

Traditional Toraja religion, known as aluk to dolo, venerated the water buffalo as their primary auspicious animal totem. These animals were sacrificed at great funerals to accompany the dead to the next world. This door rises to a transcendent level of tribal sculpture, due both to its purity of form and its deep patina from age.

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.

private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Leod and Mia van Bussel, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Some chips, nicks, abrasions, and stable fissures to wood. Otherwise, intact and in good condition with rich patina throughout. Metal loops with suspension wire on verso for easy display.