Sulawesi — Celebes

Sulawesi, historically called Celebes, is an Indonesian island home to many peoples, including Minahasan and Toraja communities. Its coastal and inland societies developed different forms of clothing and body decoration.

Older accounts record tattoos in parts of the island, including animal motifs and designs on women's arms. Some markings belonged to particular ceremonies or stages of life. They were not shared by everyone on Sulawesi.

Weaving, ornaments and carved forms offered other ways to express identity. Bentenan cloth from Minahasa shows one textile tradition, distinct from the tattoo customs recorded elsewhere on the island.

Portraits, dancers and families reveal more than the headhunting scenes that fascinated many visitors. Clothes and personal objects could show careful work as well as practical use. The old label 'Alfur', applied loosely by Europeans, does not identify one people or explain every style pictured here.