1884.84.32

Collection type

Object

Description

Cane ear ornament.

Geographical reference

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Union Territory of India)

Asia > Southern Asia > Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Union Territory of India)

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Edward Horace Man

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Date made: Possibly before 1878

Date collected

?Prior to 1878

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Cane Plant, Process Carved

Dimensions

Length: max 90 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.84.32 PR Cat other PR nos: 3252

Associated publications

JAI 1878: 467 'Ichê Worn in the holes which they bore in the lobes of their ears PL XV' [Taken from the 'List of Andamanese and Nicobarese implements ornaments etc presented to Major General Lane Fox by EH Man esq and thus described by Mr Man 18th September 1877']. Indian Antiquary, Feb. 1895, 'Catalogue of Nicobarese objects', p. 108 '78 (m) Iche (Car Nicobar Harâ-nang) Ear-stick ornament, usually made of a variety of cane called palai, very commonly worn by both sexes at most of the islands, after the manner of the Burmese. These objects are sometimes hollowed and filled with dammar on account of its agreeable odour, or with tobacco. The silver facet consists generally of a four-anna piece, the surface of which has been rubbed smooth on a stone. This is styled calmât-iche, ie 'the eye of the iche'. The Car Nicobar ear-stick is usually small and neatly-made. When not in use, za plug of cloth rolled leaf etc is often inserted in the perforated ear-lobe.' [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

Search terms: Ornament, Ear Ornament