Kerinci tribal door, Southern Sumatra, early 1900's, carved wood.
This particular door from the Kerinci people is particularly unique as it has a 8 sided pyramid shaped temple carved in the center. This symbol is clearly adapted from Buddhist motifs more prominent in Sumatra during in the 13th century. We see these Buddhist motifs incorporated in this tribal animist door as current day Indonesia was once the greatest  syncretic Hindu-Buddhist culture on earth.
Kerinci, is a historically isolated highland valley sits at the heart of the island of Sumatra, tucked deep within the Bukit Barisan mountain range. Known as the “secret valley of Sumatra” by the Dutch, Kerinci was one of the last places in Indonesia to be explored, with some areas not having western contact until the 1900's. The first road out of the valley wasn't built until the 1920’s. Even now, there are only three roads in and out of the area, with the nearest city, Padang, being a full 8 hours away by car. Being so secluded, local cultures remain very traditional, and tourists are few and far between.
42”L  x  23”w  x  2”thick