Warrior's ceremonial headdress ·  India, Naga · ID: 3036900

Description

conical crest of plaited rattan, adorned with bushy black animal hair and five boar tusks, min. dam., small missing parts, 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.