Granery Door with Water Buffalo

Toraja people, Sulawesi
19th Early 20th century
Wood
20 in / 51 cm
$7500

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.