Two Nias Kalabubu Headhunter Necklaces

Two Kalabubu Headhunter Necklaces

South Nias, Indonesia, early 20th century

diameter: 24.7 cm

Each necklace is made from brass wire onto which highly polished disks of coconut shell are strung tightly. Each has tapering ends and is fastened by a brass clasp with a decorative, flat button. Such necklaces were worn by aristocratic men in southern Nias. They formed part of a Nias man’s heirloom possessions and were high prestige items. They were a declaration that the wearer had taken a human head from an outsider group and had brought it back to the village thereby bringing creative and protective forces to the community. The heads were placed in the men’s ceremonial house and also prominently displayed in the chief’s house. Headhunting was associated with the nobility, masculinity and power.

South Nias society was very class stratified and dominated by noble families that by the late 19th century had gown very wealthy from slave trading.

ReferencesSimilar torques are illustrated in Feldman J.A. et al, Nias Tribal Treasures: Cosmic Reflections in Stone, Wood and Gold, Volkenkundig Museum Nusantara, Delft, 1990, p. 281; Rodgers, S., Power and Gold: Jewelry from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, The Barbier-Mueller Museum, Geneva, 3rd ed. 1995, p. 81 & 273.

Inventory no.: 266

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