Southeast Asia, Indonesia, South Sulawesi, Toraja people, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A fascinating set of wooden anthropomorphic puppets known as tau tau, connected by two dowels. The figures are men from the torso up with articulating arms that are attached to the top dowel. The arms between each figure are shared, with incised lines and a shallow groove down the center to indicate two individual arms. When the top dowel is twisted, the arms swing upwards. The blocky bodies are incised with chevron shaped lines, and the elongated heads feature stern expressions, with large chins, narrow mouths, and deep brows. Tau tau figures were effigies believed to protect the deceased. Size: 15.5" L x 2" W x 4.5" H (39.4 cm x 5.1 cm x 11.4 cm)

Provenance: private Northern California, USA collection; ex-Paul Harris collection

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#153390

Some arms do not move when the dowel is twisted, but still articulate individually. Chips and nicks to surfaces and stable fissures. One arm has a loss to the top. Light mineral deposits and patina.