Title
Crescent frontal
Creator
Year/Period
c.1900
Region
Tannimbar Islands, Central Maluku, Eastern Indonesian Archipelago
Dimension
Object size: 10.6 x 18.0 x 0.1 cm
Accession No.
2002-00704
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin
The crescent form appears in the material cultures of Indonesian communities as far-flung as the Minangkabau in West Sumatra, and the Atoni and Tetum peoples of Timor Island to the east. To the Minangkabau, this form is representative of the bull’s horn, itself emblematic of their identity. To the island cultures of Nusa Tenggara, the crescent moon or boat is an important symbol. The crescent frontals worn by the warriors of Timor form part of the regalia for a successful headhunter, who has demonstrated his masculinity and honour by decapitating a victim.
