Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi, second half of the 19th century (before 1889)
This boat model is a replica of a traditional londe boat from the Sangihetalaud Islands, North Sulawesi, dating from the second half of the 19th century.
Made from mulberry wood and cotton, the model features details characteristic of the original boat, such as a straight bow, two outriggers, and a mast with cotton sails. The boat is decorated with a white hull, and yellow and brown bands below the collar, reflecting the beauty of the local aesthetic.
The londe boat is a traditional boat used by fishing communities in the Sangihetalaud region to go to sea. This boat is important in maritime history because it reflects ancient Austronesian shipbuilding techniques and migration traditions, while also providing insight into the role of outrigger ships in the social and economic life of the local community.
This boat model was acquired in July 1889 by Emile Leonardus van Rouveroy van Nieuwaal and was part of the collection of the Museum Nusantara Delft. Following a repatriation agreement, this miniature boat arrived in Indonesia in 2020 and is now stored in the National Museum of Indonesia.
Lode boats, part of the Austronesian seafaring tradition, reflect the maritime skills that enabled Austronesian-speaking peoples to reach northern Australia, particularly Arnhem Land, where they traded. This exchange, including goods such as trepang (sea cucumber), was facilitated by similar vessels, which linked Indonesia to Australia through ancient maritime networks.
Inventory Number: S 163-1
Materials: Wood, textile, bamboo, fiber rope, chemical dye
Dimensions: Length 46.5 cm, Width 59 cm, Height 45.5 cm
Mariah Nadjida Bakhtiar, Preparator, discusses the significance of the Londe Boat Model
Curators
Mariah Nadjida Bakhtiar | National Museum of Indonesia
Karamina Puspitasari | National Museum of Indonesia
Nurhanifiyah Azura | National Museum of Indonesia
Ary Setyaningrum | National Museum of Indonesia
Teguh Margono | National Gallery of Indonesia