Description:

Sulawesi Island, Pacific Ocean, Torajo culture, Ca early to mid 20th century CE. Large and quite fabulous wooden funerary figure from this little known region of the world. Long after a Torajo funeral was over, the tao-tao figures still served an important role. They would be placed along with other ancestor's tao-taos in wooden balconies, so they could watch over the bones of the deceased and the villagers below. Carved from local hardwood, now with deep, natural patina, with head, legs and arms carved separately, arms articulated, eyes inset with shells. He wears a bronze bracelet on right wrist. 62" H x 17" W. Custom stand.

PROVENANCE: Ex-private Hawaii collection, ex-Butterfield's, San Francisco, CA.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

  • Condition: Excellent

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October 24, 2014 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000