Warrior's ceremonial headdress · Inde, Naga · ID: 3035565
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Description
conical rotan bonnet, nearly entirely coated with a fine basketry of red orchid bast, crest of red dyed goat’s hair, decor with boar tusks, very good condition;
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.