1923.86.40

Collection type

Object

Description

Warrior's cape

Long description

A vest constructed from the hide of an animal, with long hair remaining attached on the outside of the garment. The garment was bound around the neck edge and centre front opening by a red cotton band hand stitched in position. The rear of the vest is decorated with a panel of small glass beads stitched just below the neck edge. [TW 17/07/2012]

Geographical reference

Malaysia

Asia > South-eastern Asia > Malaysia

Sarawak

Cultural groups

Kenyah

Person

Field collector Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke

PRM source Third Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke

PRM source Bertram Norman Sergison Brooke

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1923

Date collected

By 1923

Acquisition information

Donated: 1923

Materials and processes

Material Goat Skin Animal, Material Goat Hair Animal, Material Bead, Process Beadwork

Object numbers

Accession number: 1923.86.40

Research and responses

Notes from a research visit on the 29th August 2018 by Dr Valarie Mashman, Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Borneo Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak: Length (including hair):152cm, Width (excluding hair): 54cm

Back:

There is a bilateral symmetry to the beaded pattern attached to the back, below the neck.

The beads are small in size and are likely to be from Venice.

There is a fluid stylised dragon motif with eye detail. This is called an aso motif, meaning dog. It may be called a dog motif because the pattern is so powerful that it cannot be referred to by its real name. This pattern comes in different stylised variations.

Men would design the shapes and outline the designs, and the women would follow this and do the beadwork. During the 1930s men would cut out a paper stencil that the women would follow, but prior to this we are unsure what the process was.

Front:

Red cotton around neck and slit down front.

Search terms: Clothing, Bead, Status, Cloak, Rainwear