Back
Longhouse Chief’s Door,
Bidayuh Dayak, West Borneo,
Ironwood,
19th/early 20th Century,
From a Japanese Collection,
60 x 23 in/152.5 x 58.5 cm
Bidayuh Dayak, West Borneo,
Ironwood,
19th/early 20th Century,
From a Japanese Collection,
60 x 23 in/152.5 x 58.5 cm
Dayak society was a meritocracy where only a very accomplished man could rise to the position of chief. Upon becoming a headman, he would be permitted to display a special door that bespoke his status. Such doors were decorated with traditional motifs, often including as in this case reptiles, while all other longhouse doors were plain. This door was collected in the 1950’s by an American oil man and later entered a Japanese collection. a similar piece is published in Hornbill and Dragon by Bernard Sellato, 1995.
price:
POR