Gallery

A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

For sale or swap - Toda animal jewellery

Posted by Preethi on August 8, 2014 at 12:50pm

Thinking it's time I parted with some of my pieces to make room for others.This is a Sarad - a brass bead necklace worn by a sacrificial buffalo. From the Toda tribe, Nilgiri hills, South India.From Oppi Untracht’s Traditional Jewellery of India, page 227: Udagamandalam, Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu. Brass bead necklace (sarad) used to decorate the semidomesticated water buffalo they raise and sacrifice at a funeral. The central bead has a form inspired by the indigenous carambola fruit. The discs covered with cowrie shells hang at the back and act as a counterweight.250 Euro. I would also be happy to trade this in for another piece of jewellery.

Comments

Preethi August 8, 2014 at 12:54pm

Detail of the brass beads.
Thelma August 8, 2014 at 1:58pm

Hi Preethi, it's so unusual for me to see one of these with the cowrie shell pads still attached. I've seen a couple of them without. But they are still relatively rare and I understand the Toda community is quite small.
Lynne Rouffa Springer August 8, 2014 at 4:05pm

I've never seen anything like this before. So unique and really lovely! lynne
Alaa eddine SAGID August 8, 2014 at 8:45pm

Some great and lovely beads there for those who want to recycle it into an impressive necklace as well!
Preethi August 8, 2014 at 9:54pm

Thanks everyone!

Yes Thelma, I believe these are not easy to come by but I'm not a regular at ethnic art fairs, and wouldn't be able to gauge its rarity. There are necklaces in silver with similar beads such as in this; but the ensemble is smaller and meant for people. Were the ones without the cowrie shells you came across the smaller variety or the larger type meant for an animal?
ait ouakli August 9, 2014 at 2:53am

where did you hide this beauty ??

very nice
Preethi August 9, 2014 at 9:07am

Thanks Rabah. This is sadly sitting in a corner at home gathering dust :(
Thelma August 9, 2014 at 11:30am

I think the examples I have seen have both been animal jewellery. Both were large and heavy. And both had lost their cowry weight pads ... probably taken off for use in other ways as Alaa suggests. I was interested in your comment on the shape of the central bead ... that it represents the carambola fruit. Yes, of course! I wondered why the shape seemed familiar! They are very common in Malaysia too where I was familiar with as them 'star fruit' ... I suppose from the cross sections.