Title
Ring
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
North Sumatra
Dimension
Object size: 3.2 x 3.2 x 3.6 cm
Accession No.
2002-00578
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin
This elaborate gold ring (known as ‘cincin tapak gaja’), of applied filigree and decorated with gold beads, was worn by the Batak people. The ring has a very common decorative motif also used on women’s walking sticks. The motif was probably adopted from a Malay-type trading sultanate, such as Aceh or Minangkabau. This type of ring serves many purposes: they can be decorative pieces, amulets, conjurer’s tools for sorcerers, or ornaments used to change a run of bad luck. This ring is mainly for decorative purposes, but similar rings have been known to serve as containers for medicines and potions for sorcerers.
