Naga Necklace

Glass & Brass Bead Necklace

This attractive Naga necklace comprises 18 long, faceted clear glass beads, a variety of blue and black and white glass beads and four brass bell-shaped beads.

The beads are threaded on cotton twine string and secured by an old British colonial Indian one quarter anna coin used as a button. The coin is probably contemporary with the necklace. Naga women typically re-threaded their necklaces each year as the twines used to thread them tended to weaken from wear.

The beads and necklace overall has excellent patina and wear from use. Several of the glass beads have old cracks but these tend to add to the overall feel of age of the piece.

The Naga were attracted to rare goods that could be bartered from outside their region. Beaded necklaces were very popular as a show of finery but also as a portable means of displaying and carrying wealth. The components that went into making necklaces were regarded as currency items themselves. Beads and necklaces were accumulated as heirlooms and could be passed as dowries.

The necklace is in a fine, stable, wearable condition.

See Jacobs (1990, p. 322) for a very similar necklace that utilises similar clear glass beads.