Miniature minang building

Southeast Asian Collection

Accession Nr.: 67.74.1-2
Type: metalwork; model
Date of production:
late 19th century − early 20th century
Place of production:
Materials/Techniques: brass, cast, engraved, openwork
Dimensions: height: 27 cm
width: 9. 5 cm
depth: 9. 3 cm
This three-tiered roofed building is part of a model of Minangkabau village. The Minangkabau is a Malay ethnic group living in Sumatra, where inheritance is matrilineal and, unlike other ethnic groups, it is usually the future husband who moves into the bride's house. One of the features of their architecture is the roof peak or (in the case of larger houses) peaks, which in their form refer to the buffalo (horns), an indispensable component of Minang community life.