Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 283:
This helmet comes from the Naga Konyak tribe residing in the far east of India, onboth sides of the border to Myanmar (in the states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur in India and inthe Sagaing division of northeastern Myanmar). Until the 19th century, the Nagas had very littlecontact with the outside world, even with the rest of India, and fiercely fought British occupation.At the heart of Naga society was the practice of headhunting. Young men could not move ontoadulthood or marry without completing the ritual of ritual of headhunting. They believed that thepractice was also essential for maintaining the fertility of the crops and the wellbeing of thecommunity. The Konyaks traditionally wear colorful tribal beaded jewelry, exotic accessories, and intricately woven textiles. Nagas would also have elaborate facial and hand tattoos that weredrawn when someone managed to take an enemy’s head in a battle. One of the most distinctelements of Naga dress is the helmet, often made of woven cane and decorated with variousritual elements such as animal teeth, charms, and other meaningful trinkets to the bearer of thehelmet. These helmets generally follow a similar shape but look drastically different from eachother as they reflect the idiosyncratic elements valuable to the bearer.The example in the Schmiedt Collection is a finely preserved example with a woven cap, covered in fur, and then with two types of tusks attached to the brim and the sides. The effect is strangely enough like one would find on old representations of Viking helmets, though a world away.References:1. Stone, G. C. (1934). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms andArmor in All Countries and in All Times. Mineola NY: Dover Publications.2. Von Furer-Haimendorf, C. (1938). Through the Unexplored Mountains of the Assam-BurmaBorder. The Geographical Journal, 91(3).Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
Share this lot:
