Pair Of Tau-tau Sculptures, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Island Of Sulawesi, Toraja People

Beautiful pair of Tau-Tau wooden sculptures Southeast Asia - Indonesia - Sulawesi island. Toraja people first half of the 20th century. Height approximately 145 cm each Discovered and open to the world from their long isolation that since the beginning of the last century, the Toraja ethnic group, living in the northern mountains of South Sulawesi, until today still adhere to their ancient beliefs, rituals and traditions. For the Torajas, death has always been a central theme. In addition to the well-known elaborate funeral ceremonies, the Torajas honor the deceased by carving a likeness of the dead, known as Tau-tau. Toraja culture, Tau-tau is an effigy that represents the deceased person Carved from wood or bamboo, Tau-tau statues are usually found near the place where the body of the deceased was deposited. Suspected to have originated in the 19th century. Effigies were once only produced for aristocrats and the wealthy to reflect their status and opulence. As a representation of the deceased, Tau-tau are also considered guardians of the grave as well as protectors of life. In doing so, they preserve the connection between the dead and the living. The word Tau-tau is derived from the term "Tau" which means man, and the repetition of the word in the local as well as in the Indonesian language often means "something resembling". Therefore, tau-tau can be defined as something that resembles man. Although they are carved based on the physical form of the deceased person, the Tau-tau represent their spirits who are believed to continue to exist in the afterlife (a realm known as Poyo in Toraja culture). According to Toraja belief (called Aluk Todolo), anyone who has died will enter Poyo, the realm where all spirits gather. However, they can only enter the Poyo when they have passed all the funeral ceremonies indicated according to their social status. Therefore, the Tau-tau must be made of materials that are adapted to the social situation of the deceased person. Otherwise, the spirit wandered between two worlds. This is why the holding of the funeral ceremony as well as the creation of the Tau-tau for the deceased are crucial in the life cycle of each Toraja. For those of lower social status, the Tau-tau may be made of bamboo, while for middle-class Tau-tau are made of sandalwood or Randu wood; while for the highest class, the material used for Tau-tau is made from the jackfruit tree. Additionally, buffalo horn or bones are often used for eyeballs. The creation of a Tau-tau must also follow precise steps in its sculpture following specific rituals, starting from the cutting of the tree. Whereas, during the carving process, the artisan also has to work close to the body of the deceased. For the funeral ceremony, the Tau-tau is dressed in traditional costume.