Toraja Wood Panel Handcarving

Toraja wood Panel Handcarving from North Toraja - South Sulawesi - Indonesia

Age : Circa 1950’

Size : 35 x 60 x 1 cm

Description : This Toraja House Panel called Dinding Banua. Its part of the Tongkonan. It is Traditional house of Toraja Tribe, with their front gables towards the South. Tongkonan is the traditional ancestral house, in other words, Rumah adat of the Torajan people, in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Tongkonan have a distinguishing boat-shaped and oversized saddleback roof. Like most of Indonesia's Austronesian-based traditional architecture, tongkonan are built on piles.

Construction of Tongkonan

Tongkonan constructed by laborious work and it is usually built with the help of all family members or friends.

In the original Toraja society, build a tongkonan cost alot of money. Therefore, only nobles had the right to build tongkonan. Likewise the nobles, Commoners live in smaller and less decorated homes called banua. Tongkonan are customarily built facing north-south.

Dominating the entire structure is the saddleback roof with gables that are dramatically upswept. Consequently, The internal space is small in comparison with the overwhelming roof structure that covers it.

Interiors are typically cramped and dark with few windows. However, most of daily life is lived outside the homes, with interiors simply intended for sleeping, storage, meetings and occasionally protection.

Platform Below the rice barn, is Used for sitting, Working, conversation / Gathering on Ceremonial, and many more funcition further. For instance, are used for sleeping ( when Funeral Ceremony held ).

The rice barn are status of symbols, and also token of real wealth.

"This Antique Toraja Panel are perfect to be placed at back of the bed. In Addition, the darker background of the wall will be nice. As the Result, the color of the toraja panel carving are shown." Torayata 99

Note : Price Shown As EACH piece. Don't hesitate to contact us for more detailed pictures.