Title
Sacred ritual barrier
Year/Period
Late 19th – early 20th century
Region
Toraja, South Sulawesi
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 181.0 x 167.5 x 6.5 cm
Accession No.
2019-00758
Collection of
This sacred ritual divider is known as an ampang bilik. It serves as a barrier to guard against malicious forces and is used during rituals relating to fertility, procreation, abundance and wealth. They always bear the prominent image of a pair of scrolling snakes which signify their sacral function. They also bear images of ritual dancers, water buffalo, pigs and chickens which relate to wealth, fertility and abundance.
