Title
Ceremonial skirt with beaded panel
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
West Kalimantan, Borneo
Dimension
Object size: L 53 x W 43.2
Accession No.
1997-04628
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This skirt with applied shell decoration, featuring motifs of highly stylised ‘naga’, a mythical water serpent, comes from the Maloh people in West Kalimantan, Borneo. Beads are considered rare commodities. Garments sewn with beads are thought to have increased ritual and protective qualities. It is believed that during the harvest ceremonies if more beads were displayed on textiles, they will bring more bountiful harvests.
