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Antique Toraja Soul Boat Sculpture with Eight Carved Figures, Indonesia
$2,847
£2,139.42
€2,481.24
CA$3,996.77
A$4,435
CHF 2,339.36
MX$54,141.93
NOK 29,597.43
SEK 27,720.38
DKK 18,517.04
About the Item
An extraordinary and rare ceremonial "soul boat" from the Toraja people of Sulawesi, Indonesia, dating to the early 20th century. This large hand-carved and polychromed wooden sculpture spans approximately 7 feet in length and features eight distinct seated and reclining figures arranged along a stylized vessel. Each figure is individually carved in ritual posture, with one central figure lying back—likely symbolizing the deceased—surrounded by attendants or ancestral spirits, including musicians and mourners.
The soul boat, or erong, is a central element in traditional Toraja funerary rites, representing the spiritual journey of the soul to the afterlife. This piece, with its vibrant yet aged pigments in deep red, ochre, and black, is adorned with carved geometric motifs and lotus-like friezes along the base—hallmarks of Toraja visual symbolism.
This sculpture was likely used in a ceremonial or commemorative context, and today serves as a profound representation of ancestral veneration and Southeast Asian tribal artistry. Its monumental scale and visual storytelling make it a powerful statement piece, suitable for gallery display, a collector’s altar, or as an ethnographic focal point in a modern interior.
- Dimensions:Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 68 in (172.72 cm)Depth: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)
- Style:Tribal (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. There are a couple cracks in the wood from age (as shown in photographs), but nothing effected the structural integerity of the piece. If anything, it adds character!30047.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU10487245615502
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