Tau Tau
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Early 20th Century
Provenance: Old French Collection, Acquired early 1980’s, Pierre Robin Gallery, Paris.

Unique to Sulawesi, Tau Tau figures are statues made out of wood and depict deceased ancestors. Used as protective agents guarding both the living and deceased, this example is unusual for its representation of a child. Carved with a photographic quality, the facial features are naturalistically carved and painted. The body is put together by separately carved pieces of wood and fastened together with an almost doll like quality. This jointed quality gives Tau Tau figures a dynamism not present in other static sculptural figures.

Height: 24 inches
IN 3-13-16 / SOLD

 

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