Carved Door, Toraja, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, 19th C

This very beautiful old door from the Toraja People of South Sulawesi Island in Indonesia.  The rectangular door carved in high relief in the form of a Water Buffalo Head.  Water Buffalo are very important in the Toraja culture were sometimes dozens of large Water Buffalo are slaughtered during a single ceremony . The Toraja live in the mountain area of South Sulawesi Island, most Toraja people are Christian but some are still animists.

Provenance:  From the Collection of the late Cito Cessna Sydeney.