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1923.85.35

Carved dao carrier with woven belt decorated with cowrie shells and tassels.

1923.85.35

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Collection type
Object
Description
Carved dao carrier with woven belt decorated with cowrie shells and tassels.
Long description
Carved dao carrier with woven belt decorated with cowrie shells and tassels. The wooden dao carrier is ornamented with relief carvings of 4 tailed animals with 8 heads between the tails. The two ends are decorated with a carved zigzag pattern. It has a belt of a black and red textile with a decoration of cowrie shells in the shape of crosses, and at the centre at the back of the belt, and at the fastening, are circles containing crosses. It fastens at one side of the carrier with a toggle, and is made of bone and tasseled. The tassels are made of black and red wool with hair dyed red attached to them with metal wire and orchid stem. The belt is threaded through the dao carrier. [SM 27/02/2007]
Geographical reference
India
Asia > Southern Asia > India
Cultural groups
Phom Naga
Ao Naga
Person
Field collector John Henry Hutton
PRM source John Henry Hutton
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1923
Date collected
3 November 1923
Acquisition information
Loaned: 06/1924 Donated: 1928
Materials and processes
Material Textile, Material Wood Plant, Material Cowrie Shell, Material Hair, Material Pigment, Material Bone, Material Wool Yarn Animal, Process Carved, Process Dyed, Process Woven, Process Stitched
Dimensions
Width: max 64 mm belt, Height: max 45 mm carrier, Length: max 383 mm tassels, Length: max 643 mm belt, Length: max 172 mm carrier, Width: max 86 mm carrier
Object numbers
Accession number: 1923.85.35
Research and responses

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, 'Yacham' was identified as a Phom Naga - not an Ao Naga - village in Longleng District, Nagaland. For all objects listed as from ‘Yacham’ ‘Phom Naga’ has been added to the cultural group field. [EW 19/08/2025]

Search terms: Weapon, Clothing, Figure, Status, Tool, Transport and Travel, Carrying Device, Sheath, Belt