Oceania, Etc: vendor of South Seas Art - Collecting Tiki

IDOT I dream of tiki Tiki Socialite Pittsburgh, PA Joined: Jan 12, 2004 Posts: 501	IDOT I dream of tiki Posted posted on Fri, Dec 2, 2005 5:58 PM CHIEF’S HATS Asmat chief from Irian Jaya Toranja Chief's Hat, Tana Toranja, Sulawesi,Indonesia "Tucked away amid the rugged peaks and fertile plateaus of south-central Sulawesi live many isolated tribes who share a common ancestry with the sea-faring Bugis, Mandar and Makassar peoples of the coast, conservatively maintaining many ancient crafts and customs. Coastal dwellers refer to these tribes collectively as the Toraja or “highland peoples.” According to traditional accounts, the Toraja left the island of Pongko, located to the southwest, some 25 generations ago and crossed the ocean in canoes (lembang). Arriving in Sulawesi, they made their way up to the Sa’dan River and settled on its banks. The Toraja have remained in this landlocked region growing rice and vegetables; during this century, clove trees and coffee were introduced. A small degree of outside influence was brought in by missionaries but for the most part, Torajan tribal customs and social structures endure as before. To this day, the Toraja traditionally live in small settlements perched on hilltops & surrounded by stone walls. Each village is composed of several extended families which inhabit a series of houses called Tongkonan, arranged in a circular row around an open field. In the middle stands a sacred stone or Banyan tree used for ritual offerings, and granaries (lumbung) face the dwellings. There are many feasts among the Toraja: they require an enormous outlay of material wealth and are usually held, as a result, from August to October following harvest. When enough goods have been set aside for the ceremonies, that it is a birth, a wedding or a funeral, the celebration begins. Buffaloes & pigs are first slaughtered & offerings of betelnut, fruit and “tuak” (palmwine) are made. The kinfolk must then observe a number of taboos including a rice fast that lasts several days, as dances & chants are performed. Feasting, chanting and dancing continues for many days through the night & buffalo fights alternating with boxing matches take place in between. In the end, the feast culminates with the ritual slaughter of buffaloes (up to 50 for a funeral), each by a single stroke of the sword. The blood is collected in bamboo containers to be cooked along with the buffalo meat & distributed among the guests. This chief’s hat is an extremely rare find. It can only be worn by the chief of the village or the sacred martial dancers who perform the ritual dances. It will make a fine decoration item as well as a fascinating conversation piece for the amateur or collector of rare prized artifacts." "Toraja warriors wearing the songkok. This helmet has iron projections in the shape of buffalo horns meant to deflect blows." [ Edited by: I dream of tiki 2009-02-21 00:07 ]

CHIEF’S HATS

Asmat chief from Irian Jaya

Toranja Chief's Hat, Tana Toranja, Sulawesi,Indonesia

"Tucked away amid the rugged peaks and fertile plateaus of south-central Sulawesi live many isolated tribes who share a common ancestry with the sea-faring Bugis, Mandar and Makassar peoples of the coast, conservatively maintaining many ancient crafts and customs. Coastal dwellers refer to these tribes collectively as the Toraja or “highland peoples.” According to traditional accounts, the Toraja left the island of Pongko, located to the southwest, some 25 generations ago and crossed the ocean in canoes (lembang). Arriving in Sulawesi, they made their way up to the Sa’dan River and settled on its banks. The Toraja have remained in this landlocked region growing rice and vegetables; during this century, clove trees and coffee were introduced. A small degree of outside influence was brought in by missionaries but for the most part, Torajan tribal customs and social structures endure as before.

To this day, the Toraja traditionally live in small settlements perched on hilltops & surrounded by stone walls. Each village is composed of several extended families which inhabit a series of houses called Tongkonan, arranged in a circular row around an open field. In the middle stands a sacred stone or Banyan tree used for ritual offerings, and granaries (lumbung) face the dwellings.
There are many feasts among the Toraja: they require an enormous outlay of material wealth and are usually held, as a result, from August to October following harvest. When enough goods have been set aside for the ceremonies, that it is a birth, a wedding or a funeral, the celebration begins. Buffaloes & pigs are first slaughtered & offerings of betelnut, fruit and “tuak” (palmwine) are made. The kinfolk must then observe a number of taboos including a rice fast that lasts several days, as dances & chants are performed. Feasting, chanting and dancing continues for many days through the night & buffalo fights alternating with boxing matches take place in between. In the end, the feast culminates with the ritual slaughter of buffaloes (up to 50 for a funeral), each by a single stroke of the sword. The blood is collected in bamboo containers to be cooked along with the buffalo meat & distributed among the guests.

This chief’s hat is an extremely rare find. It can only be worn by the chief of the village or the sacred martial dancers who perform the ritual dances. It will make a fine decoration item as well as a fascinating conversation piece for the amateur or collector of rare prized artifacts."

"Toraja warriors wearing the songkok. This helmet has iron projections in the shape of buffalo horns meant to deflect blows."

[ Edited by: I dream of tiki 2009-02-21 00:07 ]

Post #201329 by I dream of tiki on Fri, Dec 2, 2005 5:58 PM