Head trophy
20. Jahrhundert | Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf
The elaborate decoration of the head trophy points to the elaborate rituals that accompanied both the killing and the display of the heads. Captured heads often had Mithun horns attached to the side. When asked about this, Naga explained that these horns made the victim deaf - he could not hear the calls of his relatives asking for the name of the murderer. The braided balls represent captured heads that could not be brought back to the village.
The elaborate decoration of the head trophy points to the elaborate rituals that accompanied both the killing and the display of the heads. Captured heads often had Mithun horns attached to the side. When asked about this, Naga explained that these horns made the victim deaf - he could not hear the calls of his relatives asking for the name of the murderer. The braided balls represent captured heads that could not be brought back to the village.
Collection:
Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf (1909 Wien - 1995 London) DNB
Time:
20. Jahrhundert
Object Name
Köpfe
Culture
Nagaland
Material/technology:
human skull, bamboo, rattan, mithun horn
Copyright
Weltmuseum Wien
Collection area
South Asia, Southeast Asia, Himalayas
Invs.
126820
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