Hexagonal Tongkonan Pa’ Doti Langi’ Wooden Carving

Pair of Torajan Tongkonan houses with a Kandaure ornament at the center. The Tongkonan, with its boat-shaped roof, symbolizes the unity of family and the ancestral origins of the Torajan people. The four sacred colors—black for death, red for life, yellow for divine blessings, and white for purity—represent the balance between spiritual and worldly realms. The Kandaure, traditionally made of hand-strung beads, is not only worn as ceremonial adornment but also hung outside the house during important rituals as a symbol of blessing and honor. Placed between the two Tongkonan houses, the Kandaure in this carving represents a bridge between them, signifying harmony, shared prosperity, and the interconnectedness of kinship within the Torajan community. Its presence embodies both beauty and spiritual meaning, celebrating divine grace and social unity. The motif below, Pa’ Doti Langi’, signifies the nobility of a Torajan woman, while the entire composition reflects the Torajan people’s deep reverence for heritage, harmony, and the sacred balance of life.

Toraja, circa 1970
Material: Uru wood and Paint
Dimension: 21,5 x 31 x 1 cm