Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Borneo, Dayak culture, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A multistrand necklace strung with beads, and a wood stamp panel carved with a symbol. The necklace has three strands of vegetal fibers- drilled seed pods, cut shells, and tiny vertebrae bones that might be from fish or reptiles. The rectangular wood panel with a raised geometric motif, was used for stamping ink on cloth or skin, which can then be outlined and made into a permanent tattoo with needles. The stylized rosette might be a bungai terung (eggplant flower) to symbolize a man's coming of age tattoo and the interlacing spiral known as tali nyawa symbolizes the beginning of a new life. Size of necklace strand doubled: 24" L (61 cm); tattoo stamp: 3.125" L x 2.25" W (7.9 cm x 5.7 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 2000 to 2010

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#183577

Fraying to fiber cords on the necklace, with some chips and losses to beads. Wood stamp is intact and excellent. Light mineral deposits on the surface.