Warrior's ceremonial headdress ·  India, Naga · ID: 3035724

Description

conical bonnet in two layers, the surface coated with a fine plant fibre netting, dyed in red, yellow orchid stem forming linear ornaments, decorated with animal hair and two boar tusks, slight traces of usage;
written sources reveal that before the Pax Britannica the Nagas 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 3035724 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 20 achieved a sales price of EUR 600.

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Comparing literature

Jacobs, Julian, The Nagas, London 1990, p. 221