Tau tau are figures made for funeral rituals. "These figures are carved by specialists from the wood of a jackfruit tree; polished with coconut oil, they acquire the tones of skin, later they take on a greyish patina from the rain. Such pieces are made only for the largest funeral rites, held for nobility or the wealthy. The articulated [arms] are moved in a life-like manner during the funeral procession." (Barbier & Newton 1988: 264)

Provenance:
Thomas Murray, Mill Valley, 2003