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.

"Robot" Earrings from Maluku

Posted by Edith D on January 19, 2018 at 6:31am
Although these "lelbutir" are pretty common in the marketplace, I thought myself lucky to find this pair because of their good quality and condition. They are gilded brass with the gilding still visible. They are stuffed with a red trade cloth and wrapped with thread at the top. Carpenter shows a similar pair suspended from a beaded chain on page 292 of his book.
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Tags: Indonesia, earrings
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  • Edith D January 19, 2018 at 6:51am

    2506051802?profile=originalA woman from southeast Maluku wearing lelbutir earring.  The motif of this type of earring is clearly a fertility symbol with both male and female components.

  • Ann February 13, 2018 at 4:19am

    Great earrings! They look very Art Deco industrial to me.

    :-)

  • Edith D February 13, 2018 at 8:35am

    Thanks!  You are correct in that vertically symmetrical designs are a common theme in much of the regional tribal art, and this is not unlike the type of symmetry found in Art Deco. The earrings above are meant as a fertility symbol and represent both male and female reproductive parts.  Variations on this design can be found across the archipelago.

  • Ann February 13, 2018 at 7:48pm

    The fabric kills me! I just love that touch. They are really neat. I've never seen anything like them. How nice too that you got a pair of the quality you deserve! 

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