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Rare early 20th toraja tongkonan model 60x70cm museum curator confirmed

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Nicosia, Dali - Panag Evangelistria

Posted: 04.10.2025 11:21 Ad ID: 5928606

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Condition: Used

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This exact vintage Tongkonan model house, measuring approximately 60 cm high by 70 cm long, has been officially identified and confirmed by Marjolein van Asdonck, Curator of Southeast Asia at the Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands, as an early 20th-century example made for exhibitions, museums, or institutions.

Handcrafted by skilled artisans from the Kesu and Tikala districts of Sulawesi, Indonesia, it displays the iconic curved saddle-shaped roof, stilted base, and intricate painted motifs traditionally reserved for high-status Toraja families. Its proportions and detailing match documented museum pieces, including the Wereldmuseum’s own Tongkonan House Model TM-4117-1.

Historically, large-scale Tongkonan models like this were produced not only for the early tourist trade but also for colonial and world exhibitions and museum collections, making them rare and culturally significant today. This piece retains its authentic handmade character, with one side featuring a motif panel that has been faithfully restored by hand to preserve its symbolism and aesthetic value.

A museum-quality ethnographic artifact with direct curator confirmation, making it a unique and verifiable acquisition for collectors of Southeast Asian heritage and historical craftsmanship.