Neck Band

Neck-band. Brass; dia 18 cm, Nagaland. c. early 20th century. 85/6858

This extremely heavy neck ornament is meant to fit passively against the collar bone, in a deliberate attempt towards restraint, symbolic of quiescent power. Cast by the cire perdue or lost-wax 67 technique, the neck ornament is embellished with small spiral roundels that may well represent human heads. Often neck chokers are seen with skulls strung in a row around the neck, very much like the skull tallys worn by Naga warriors.