ear ornament

Ear decorations (Bedamuni: gigiitu). One of two strings of nanya beads (Job’s Tears, Coix lacryma-jobi) to be worn by boys at their initiation, and by dancers as ear decorations (gigiitu). Each string has a piece of Common Spotted Cuscus fur (Spilocuscus maculatus) at one end, and a flight feather made into a suspending device at the other end. The strings are suspended from the ears or a headdress. These were bought from Kaase.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
1982.16ii
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 290 mm x 55 mm x 25 mm; overall: 260 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
Job's tears seed; common spotted cuscus fur; feather
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
World Gallery > Oceania > Bedamuni
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Collection Information

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