Jewelry set
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
bone, shell, stone, cotton
Classification
Jewelry Set
Culture
Indian (Naga-Angami)
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Muriel Kallis Newman, 2008
Accession Number
2008.190.23a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite jewelry set from 19th-century Naga-Angami culture showcases the masterful craftsmanship of Northeast India's Naga people, particularly the Angami tribe. Crafted from natural materials—bone, shell, stone, and—the set exemplifies traditional adornments likely worn for ceremonies, rites of passage, or to signify social status. The use of readily available organic elements highlights the resourcefulness of Naga artisans, who transformed everyday natural finds into symbols of identity and prestige. In Naga-Angami society, such jewelry held deep cultural importance, often reflecting ...