South Asia, India, Naga peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. A fine pair of glass bead necklaces with brass face pendants that were made by the Naga culture to wear as decorative pieces and to symbolize trophy heads. The first has a button clasp and cord loop terminal tip that branches into multiple strands strung with hundreds of red seed beads that are braided together, coalescing at a pair of black spherical beads with white inlays. The strands branch again and contain dozens of blue seed beads and a pair of white tubular beads that flank the cast-brass pendant with repousse stylized features. The pendant represents a trophy - reserved for warriors that had taken heads. The other necklace consists of matte, opaque glass beads in red, yellow, and orange with a pair of conical brass ornaments just before the trophy head pendant. Both necklaces are wearable! Size (orange necklace): 27" L (68.6 cm); (brass heads): 2.5" L x 1.75" W (6.4 cm x 4.4 cm); (necklace with multiple strands): 24.5" L (62.2 cm)

The Naga people are a combination of tribes in northeastern India and northwestern Burma known for their artistry, particularly when it comes to jewelry. During special rituals on their calendar, men and women dress in ceremonial clothing and ornaments, including stunning necklaces like these examples.

Provenance: ex-private Southern California, USA collection, in the USA since 1997

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#167403

Both are wearable and intact. Nice patina and toning on the brass and softening to facial details on one. Light mineral deposits and discoloration to the surface of the beads. Some discoloration to the cotton threads, but all are intact, and both are wearable.