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2017.2.9

Much worn conch shell bead, perforated longitudinally. The surface has been smoothed and polished. [ASh [OPS move] 6/1/2017]

2017.2.9

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Collection type
Object
Description
Much worn conch shell bead, perforated longitudinally. The surface has been smoothed and polished. [ASh [OPS move] 6/1/2017]
Geographical reference
India
Asia > Southern Asia > India
Nagaland Khonoma Village
Cultural groups
Angami Naga
Person
Field collector Henry Balfour
PRM source Henry Balfour
Date / Period
Date made: Before 18/09/1922
Date collected
18 September 1922
Acquisition information
Donated: 1923 Found unentered: 06/01/2017
Materials and processes
Material Conch Shell, Process Ground, Process Perforated, Process Polished
Dimensions
Diameter: max 18 mm, Length: max 78 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 2017.2.9 Other numbers: 4
Associated publications
See entry in Henry Balfour's diary for 18 September 1922 [in PRM Manuscripts collection]. "...I watched some of the men making long, barrel-shaped, beads of conch-shell, by grinding the columella on the wetted surface of a saddle-shaped stone, + drilling with a hand-twirled drill with long point of wire (or sometimes an old umbrella spoke). [sketch] A split wooden clamp used for holding the shell while being ground or drilled. (held with the feet for the latter purpose). Bead-making + trading in beads is a great speciality at KHONOMA. I bought a bead-making outfit (except for the grind stone) for 1 1/2 R., +, later, some unfinished + finished beads for 1 R. each...." https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/manuscripts/balfourdiaries1922.html [MdeA [OPS move] 6/1/2017]

Search terms: Bead, Technique

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