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Pitt Rivers Museum

1928.69.569.1

Calthrop holder of mithan horn with red dyed hair and tufts of black hair. [MJD DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 24/09/2010]


1928.69.569.1

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Collection type
Object
Description
Calthrop holder of mithan horn with red dyed hair and tufts of black hair. [MJD DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 24/09/2010]
Long description
Calthrop holder of mithan horn with red dyed hair and tufts of black hair. The black mithan horn is decorated with red dyed goats hair and short black ?human hair inserted in holes and stuck with black ?resin. There is a cane loop attached to the open end of the horn. [MJD DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 24/09/2010]
Geographical reference
Cultural groups
Phom Naga
Konyak Naga
Person
Field collector James Philip Mills
PRM source James Philip Mills
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1923
Date collected
December 1923
Acquisition information
Loaned: 03/1924 Donated: 1928
Materials and processes
Material Cattle Horn Animal, Material Goat Hair Animal, Material Pigment, Material Cane Plant, Process Carved, Process Dyed, Process Perforated, Process Bound
Dimensions
Length: max 350 mm, Width: max 92 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1928.69.569.1
Research and responses

According to Jacobs, J. (1990) The Nagas: Hillpeoples of Northeast India, Stuttgart: Staib + Meyer, p. 356 'panji: hardened bamboo spikes, stuck upwards in ground in injure enemies or game.' [MJD DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 24/09/2010]

During a visit of Naga elders and tribal leaders in June 2025, members of the delegation identified misspellings of village names and incorrect tribal affiliations for objects or ancestors associated with certain villages. In consultations with Mr Ngongba Tange Thamlong Phom, Vice President of the Phom Peoples’ Organization, ‘Kamahu’ was identified as Yongshei, a Phom Naga village in Longleng District, Nagaland. For all objects listed as from ‘Kamahu’ the modern placename ‘Yongshei’ has been added to the region field and ‘Phom Naga’ has been added to the cultural group field. [EW 19/08/2025]

Search terms: Weapon, Transport and Travel, Calthrop, Quiver, Carrying Device