Warrior's ceremonial headdress ·  India, Naga · ID: 3034439

Description

conical bonnet, two layers (network of rotan and orchid stem), crest of red dyed wild goat’s hair, two boar tusks, slightly dam.;
written sources reveal that before the Pax Britannica the Naga used heavy war helmets made of bamboo which actually functioned as a means of defence. The English later discouraged the incessant tribal feuds which led to the substitution of these heavy helmets with lighter ones like the present one. These headdresses, whose sole objective is to convey the idea of combat readiness and pride in warfare, are worn only on ceremonial occasions.

The object Warrior’s ceremonial headdress with the object ID 3034439 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 10 achieved a sales price of EUR 450.

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Comparing literature

Somaré Grata, Vigorelli, Leonardo, The Nagas, Bergamo 1992, p. 32 f.