A GROUP OF NAGA WOOD HEAD-TAKERS CHEST ORNAMENTS, MOSTLY KONYAK, NAGALAND, NORTH-EAST INDIA

Comprising:



A. A wooden chest ornament carved in the form of an open-mouthed man
B. A wooden chest ornament carved as two joined male heads
C. A wooden pipe, the cup worked as a man's head, the stem with a register of heads
D. A wooden head

A and B: India, Art and Culture 1300-1900, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985

A and B: Welch 1985, p.79, no.34

1. Minor wear and small losses to side extremities 2. minor wear, traces of colour 3. upper edge of cup reduced, probably through use, some wear 4. signficant wear As viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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Most ornaments worn by Naga tribesmen carry a particular meaning. The wearing of these ornaments is restricted to those whom the denotation is appropriate. Both the significance and the very forms of  these ornaments vary from tribe to tribe. Hence, the means of achieving the status required to qualify for wearing the various ornaments also varies amongst different tribes and even between clans within each tribe. Equally, the same adornments might have different meanings according to which tribe is using them and whether the wearer is male or female (Jacobs p.110). These ornaments, whether headgear, tattoos or jewellery serve not only to carry a meaning but also are also carriers of 'power', usually considered in terms of fertility in its broadest sense.

The ornaments carved as wooden heads are used by the Konyak to indicate the wearer's status as a head-taker. They are worn as pendants on the chest or can be applied to the head-takers basket (Jacobs 1990, p.192, for related examples). The number of heads carved is often an indicator of how many heads a warrior has taken.