Title
Woman’s jacket
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
West Kalimantan, Borneo
Dimension
Object size: L 49.5 x W 43.5
Accession No.
1997-04623
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This beaded jacket, decorated with rows of shells at the edges, comes from the Maloh people in West Kalimantan, Borneo. It features highly stylised figures which represent the mythical water serpents ‘naga’. 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.
