Title
Woman’s jacket
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
West Kalimantan, Borneo
Dimension
Object size: L 54.5 x W 42
Accession No.
1997-04620
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Ng
This beaded jacket comes from the Maloh people in West Kalimantan, Borneo. The iconography depicts yellow human figures, representing the ancestor spirits.The jacket is decorated with beads and coins and has brass bells at the hem. Beads are considered rare commodities, and 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.
