Shawl of a warrior

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Description

cotton, three panels, embroidered with cowrie shells, forming two stylized figures and 20 circles, slightly dam., mended in several places, colour bleached out;
the circles of cowrie shells are a reference to feasts of merit which the owner has hosted, or they symbolize the shining stars in the sky during a nightly raid, or the moon and thus female fertility. The stylized human figures indicate the owners success in head-taking. Today the cloths are reserved for distinguished members of society and for cultural groups performing traditional head-hunting dances.

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Littérature comparée

Kunz, Richard, Naga, Basel 2008, p. 103, ill. 125

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