Description:

Central Asia, northeastern India / Burma, Naga people, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A fine example of a wooden sword sheath used to store a Naga headhunter's sword known as a dao. The rectangular wooden sheath is carved with intricate linear and latticework motifs along the peripheries, has a wrapped rattan fiber strap bound across the openwork blade housing, and displays thirty purple-dyed tufts of hair along the sides. Two leather belt halves are secured to the sides of the sheath body and feature broad panels with dozens of white cowrie snail shell beads arranged in neat rows. Size: 26" W x 9.375" H (66 cm x 23.8 cm)

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in February 2018; ex-private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired via descent from grandfather who acquired it while traveling around the 1930s

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#153904

  • Condition: Slight bending to overall forms of leather belt straps, with losses to some cowrie snail shells, softening to some incised details, and loosening and losses to some rattan fibers. Nice patina throughout.

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August 6, 2020 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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