Title
Gold headband
Creator
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
South Nias, Sumatra
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 4.7 x 16.5 x 17.5 cm
Accession No.
2002-00653
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Edmond Chin
This gold headband was worn by a noble woman of Nias. Gold ornaments were reserved for the aristocracy and announced their high status and separation from the commoners. South Nias was an especially artistically intense part of Indonesia because Nias chiefs were locked in perpetual battle with each other for position and their main weapon for increasing their power was through increasing their artwork. The amount of gold jewellery and accessories they had would demonstrate the chief’s piety towards his ancestors and his generosity towards the lower classes.
