Story Of Bali, Indonesia

A characteristic feature of the particularly fine Menangkabau houses is the saddle-backed roof, with high gables at either end decorated with buffalo heads facing downwards, probably also as symbols of protection against evil spirits.

These houses are often enlarged by the addition of annexes, which also have curved ridges beginning beneath the overhanging ridge of the main building. The Menangkabau style of architecture is undoubtedly the most magnificent in the whole of Indonesia. Incidentally, the technical college in Bandung was built in this style. The facade, i.e. the long side, of the house is generally of wood, as are also he walls of the annexes, if any. The effect of the wood-carving on these houses is accentuated by coloring in white, black and red.

But the motifs displayed on them are conceived in a style which differs considerably from that of the Bataks and the Toradia. Instead of the decorative interplay of lines reminiscent of the Dong-Son style, we have blossoms and flowers intertwined with tendrils. Thus we may not strong Hindu influence, which was able to survive in this very Area of Sumatra longer than it could elsewhere. Yet the primitive have not completely vanished, and thus the tumpal motif reappears in these carvings , though only very rarely.

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