Headdress „duli“

Every single vertebrae of the snake is pulled up on a chain of cotton thread and knotted with four beads, possibly two Chinese porcelain beads above.

At the end of the chain, there are additionally two powder glass beads from West-Africa, which are made out of melted and grounded old glass. 

The serpentine spine in the hair of the Bontoc-women is defending them from lightning strikes. Often it is put on the navel of a pregnant woman to guarantee a safe birth process.

 

Object Headdress „duli“
Culture Bontok, Philippines
Time 20th century
Dimensions Length  40 cm
Material Serpentine spine, beads, cotton thread
Supplementing Literature Back to room view