Guarded Glory

This strong set includes a bold Tau tau sculpture from Toraja on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, and a set of 2 shell money rings from Papua, all made by local artisans using ancient techniques.

Tau tau are a type of effigy made of wood or bamboo, originating in the 19th century. They are special to the people of Toraja, created to represent the deceased, ever-guarding the tombs and protecting the living. In the beginning they were only made for the wealthy, to reflect their social status. The word tau means man, and tau tau means men or statues.

In Papua money rings were created as currency, mainly used for bride price or for purchasing expensive items. Here it was the duty of the man’s family to pay for his bride, as compensation for the time and resources the family put into her before she reached adulthood. During the bride price ceremony a man would throw a feast, offer his future wife’s family pigs, and a bride price piece like a money ring.

The suite comes complete with the blackened metal stands and the stories of the pieces printed out for you inside a beautiful envelope. Being artisan crafted, every piece is an original and slightly different, showcasing the natural beauty of the materials and their organic imperfections includig natural age cracks in the wood. The handmade metal supports carry their own authenticity, with subtle imperfections, irregularities and the potential for a natural patina to emerge over time. Books not included.

DIMENSIONS INCLUDING THE METAL SUPPORTS:

• The money rings: ca 20 and 25cm tall by around 6cm width
• The Tau tau: ca 66 x 23 x 21cm