Rare ritual water buffalo necklace ·  South India, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri Hills, Toda · ID: 3052030

Description

silver, cowrie shells, textile fibers,

This elaborately and exquisitely crafted ornament was used to adorn water buffaloes during secret ritual occasions.

The cowrie-shell discs were reportedly attached to the horns, while the necklace hung between the animal’s forelegs.

The Toda people are a simple, pastoral community. They are not wealthy, and traditionally, water buffalo necklaces such as this example are the most important jewels that the community possessed.

The object Rare ritual water buffalo necklace with the object ID 3052030 was part of the auction Auction 106 on April 25, 2026. The object with the lot number 125 achieved a sales price of EUR 850 with an asking price of EUR 500.

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Comparing literature

Borel, France, Schmuck, Kostbarkeiten aus Afrika, Asien, Ozeanien und Amerika aus der Sammlung Ghysels, Speyer 1999, p. 156