The Islands of Timor

The Portuguese connection with the Islands of Timor, geographically located at the easternmost tip of Insulindia, dates back to the early-16th century, and developed in the aftermath of the conquest of the major outposts of Goa (1510), Malacca (1511), and the Protectorate of Ormuz (1515), whose control facilitated the opening of commercial maritime routes along the Asian coast.

To the north of Dili, East-Timor capital city, the small Atauro Island, positioned between the much larger Island of Timor and the volcanic islands of Indonesia, has been recorded in Portuguese cartography since 1512. The first landing in Atauro however, dates from 1515, in the reign of King Manuel I (r. 1495-1521), and was accomplished by Rui de Brito Patalim[1], Captain of Malacca. The Portuguese presence on the Islands of Solor and Timor will eventually last until 2000, two years before the new country independence.[2]

Previous to the arrival of these first Europeans, Chinese, Malay and Javanese sailors had already sought to acquire the precious sandalwood autochthonous to these islands, and essential raw material for the production of the incenses widely used throughout the Southern China Sea regions in religious ceremonies and rituals, Buddhist rites and wealthier Hindus funeral pyres.[3] In fact, due to the secular interaction with Chinese and Arabian merchants, Timor was mentioned in the “Description of Foreign Peoples”, a Chinese treaty dating from circa 1225, as Ti-wu, a land abundant in sandalwood. Additionally, there is also a reference to trade in turtle shells from Eretmochelys imbricata , and some silver, both destined to supply China.[4]

White sandalwood (santalum album ), valued for its fragrance and medicinal qualities, was also utilised in art, being one of the most desired Timorese raw materials, only comparable to honey and wax. In some 16th century written records, namely those by Tomé Pires in Suma Oriental (1514-1515), and Duarte Barbosa (1516), there are also references to slave trade.[5] By supplying the Indian and Southeastern Asian markets, Portuguese merchants monopolised the sandalwood trade, predominantly carried out by an unofficial group of Portuguese brokers, known as topasses, in the islands of Solor and Timor. In exchange, the topasses would carry with them prestigious commodities, such as gold, porcelain, Indian textiles, iron made weaponry, tin and lead, as diplomatic gifts for local chieftains and rulers[6].

In terms of the islands’ sociopolitical organization, Antonio Pigafetta recorded that the sole surviving ship from Fernão de Magalhães circumnavigation fleet, the Vitória, anchored at the northern coast of Timor in 1522. Magalhães secretary reported that the island western territories were ruled by kings to which the lesser chieftains owed allegiance, that the people wore no clothes, and that the women carried gold and brass bracelets up to their elbows.[7]

In the second half of the 16th century Dominican missionaries settled on the Island of Solor, between the Islands of Timor and Flores, with the purpose of initiating the evangelisation of local populations. In spite of the spreading of Christianity to neighbouring islands, Timor was left out of that early effort, the Portuguese presence only intensifying in 1702, upon the arrival of Governor António Coelho Guerreiro, who would order the building of the first fortification with the purpose of intensifying missionary activity. Atauro was colonised by Portugal from 1702 to 1975, occupied by Japan during World War II and subsequently, from 1975 to 1999, by Indonesia.[8]

From the 19th century onwards, the territory started to gain some autonomy from Portuguese India’s government, eventually becoming dependant of Macao in 1844, and achieving administrative autonomy in 1894.[9] By the late 19th century, Timor’s eastern region, including the Island of Atauro, would create links with other colonies.

In a seated posture, with straight back and slightly forward leaning trunk, this male figure is characterised by arms belting its bent legs close to the abdomen. Wood carved, of accentuated stylised character, it represents a depiction of a distant ancestor that is characteristic of the Southeast Asian tradition.

Similarly to other anthropomorphic sculptures from Timor, it features a schematically carved physiognomy, from which stands out the shape of the head, flattened at the top and larger than the trunk. Of rather disproportionate legs in relation to the remaining body, it rests on a cylindrical stand, revealing a rather unusual image in its type, and even remarkably “modern”.

The sculpture’s synthetic style directs to the local cult of ancestors, in which funerary rites reflect the relevance mainly allocated to the elites’ dead members. These social rituals evidence respect and reverence towards the community’s ancestors, source of human existence, and essential for the wellbeing that is granted through observance and offerings.

This seated human depiction belongs to the region’s core imagery and is mostly linked to ideals of well-being and protection, particularly of the elite groups, who kept these sculptures on altars.[1] In spite of this itara unique artistic character, ancestor squatting figures are common amongst Austronesia’s traditional sculptures, such as those from the Philippines and the Moluccas Archipelagos.

Leonor Liz Amaral

[1] David Henkel in CHON, Alan (ed.), Devotion & Desire, Cross-cultural art in Asia, New Acquisitions, ACM- Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapura, 2013.

[1] In LOUREIRO, Rui Manuel, Notícias de Timor nas Fontes Portuguesas dos Séculos XVI e XVII, Revistas Científicas do UCP, 2015, pp.180-181; TELES E CUNHA, João M., “Timor e o Comércio do Sândalo”, Os Espaços de um Império, Estudos, Ciclo de Exposições Memórias do Oriente, 1999, p. 228.

[2] The East Timor Portuguese Colony encompasses the period between 1596 and 1975.

[3] LOUREIRO, Rui M., Notícias de Timor nas Fontes Portuguesas dos Séculos XVI e XVII, 2015, p.180, 182; TELES E CUNHA, João M., “Timor e o Comércio do Sândalo”, 1999, p. 226.

[4] In ALPERT, Steven G., The Carver’s Hand, Sculptural Arts of Timor and Atauro, 2024, p. 3; TELES E CUNHA, João M., “Timor e o Comércio do Sândalo”, 1999, p. 227.

[5] In LOUREIRO, Rui M., Notícias de Timor nas Fontes Portuguesas dos Séculos XVI e XVII, 2015, pp.180-181.

[6] Idem, pp. 229-230.

[7] Pigafetta in LOUREIRO, Rui M., Notícias de Timor nas Fontes Portuguesas dos Séculos XVI e XVII , 2015, pp.181-183; Pigafetta in TELES E CUNHA, João M., “Timor e o Comércio do Sândalo”, 1999, pp. 228-229.

[8] A Treaty defining the border between Portuguese Timor (East Timor) and Dutch Timor (Western Timor) was signed in 1859, between Portugal and The Netherlands.

[9] DIAS, Pedro, Extremo Oriente, Arte de Portugal no Mundo, Editor Público – Comunicação Social, SA, 2009, pp. 133-134.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ALPERT, Steven G., The Carver’s Hand, Sculptural Arts of Timor and Atauro, 2024.

[https://www.artoftheancestors.com/blog/the-carvers-hand-timor-atauro]

CASTILHO, Manuel, Oriente, Ocidente. East West, Manuel Castilho Antiguidades, 2025.

DIAS, Pedro, Extremo Oriente, Arte de Portugal no Mundo, Editor Público – Comunicação Social, SA, 2009.

CHON, Alan (ed.), Devotion & Desire, Cross-cultural art in Asia, New Acquisitions, ACM- Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapura, 2013.

GONÇALVES Marisa Ramos, "A ilha-prisão de Ataúro durante a ocupação indonésia de Timor-Leste: histórias de encarceramento, resistência e legados contemporâneos", e-cadernos CES, 37, 2022. [https://journals.openedition.org/eces/7084]

LOUREIRO, Rui Manuel, Notícias de Timor nas Fontes Portuguesas dos Séculos XVI e XVII, 2015, pp. 177-198, Revistas Científicas do UCP. [https://revistas.ucp.pt/index.php/povoseculturas/article/view/8994/8862]

TELES E CUNHA, João M., “Timor e o Comércio do Sândalo”, Os Espaços de um Império, Estudos, Ciclo de Exposições Memórias do Oriente, 1999, pp. 225-233.

ROSSEL, Siebe, WENTHOLT, Arnold (eds.), Tribal Treasures in Dutch Private Collections, Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal, Netherlands, AFdH Publishers, Tribal Art Collector’s Society, 2008.

https://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=29