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15 - Sa'dan Toraja tau tau funeral doll, West Central Sulawesi, I…
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Estimate €1,000 - €2,000
Sale commission
Description
Sa'dan Toraja tau tau funeral doll, West Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Wood, hair, shell, metal, natural pigments, organic fibre clothing. Height (seat): 112.5 cm ( 44 1/4 inches). A tau tau is an effigy of an important person in the Toraja community, carved after their death. These sculptures played a central role in funeral rites and served as receptacles for the soul before it passed on to the next world. They were then placed among other effigies in a rock crypt or troglodytic dwelling to watch over the well-being of the villages. Carved from semi-hard wood, our doll with articulated limbs represents a woman seated on a chair and dressed in ancient clothing. She wears anklets on each leg. Her face is adorned with shell eyes and hair inserted into a slit at the top of her head, indicating her important rank. Provenance: Bonhams New York, 23 October - 1 November 2023, lot 75W.
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About the sale ANA AND JAMES MELIKIAN COLLECTION - PART II
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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