Claw/tooth belt for I.D. South-East Asian ?

[colin henshaw]

Hi

Here are some images of a claw or tooth belt on cloth, that I would like to identify. I cannot place it exactly ... probably South-East Asian ? Those small beads make me think of Dayak work. Or maybe Naga, Philippines or elsewhere ??

Perhaps one of our South-East Asian enthusiasts can help out. Any photographs, references or comparable examples would also be useful.

Thanks in advance.

[colin henshaw]

Anyone recognize this piece ?

[Sajen]

I really don't know but my best guess would be Naga. :shrug:

Best regards,
Detlef

[colin henshaw]

Hi Detlef

You may well be right about Naga. They seemed to like tied strings of small beads, as well as animal teeth, claws etc for decoration.

Being found in Britain also makes sense from a historical viewpoint. Here are some Naga images taken from the internet.

Best regards,
Colin

[VANDOO]

THE TEETH LOOK LIKE PIG TUSKS FROM SMALL PIGS. THEY USE TEETH FOR JEWELRY IN NEW GUINEA BUT IT MOSTLY SEEMS TO BE DOG TEETH AND I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING ANY BEAD WORK SO NAGA DOES SEEM TO BE MORE LIKELY. A INTERESTING ITEM. :cool:

[Sajen]

BUT IT MOSTLY SEEMS TO BE DOG TEETH AND I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING ANY BEAD WORK SO NAGA DOES SEEM TO BE MORE LIKELY. A INTERESTING ITEM. :cool:

Dog teeth or flying fox would be my guess by Colins cloth, the cloth and the bead work let me think Naga, both would be untypical for New Guinea.

Regards,
Detlef

[BANDOOK]

DOG TEETH,MOSTLY PAPUA OR IRIAN JAVA,CHEERS

[colin henshaw]

After a bit more research - it seems this piece could be a belt or sash made from pangolin claws, worn by the Mizo people of Eastern India and/or the Chin people of Western Burma.

[Tim Simmons]

Very interesting, very nice piece in anybodies collection.

[Sajen]

After a bit more research - it seems this piece could be a belt or sash made from pangolin claws, worn by the Mizo people of Eastern India and/or the Chin people of Western Burma.

Which would nearly confirm my guess in up. ;)

[kronckew]

they reming me of crocodilia teeth (i have a knife somewhere with a grip made from one. :)

[VANDOO]

I KNEW WHAT A PANGOLIAN IS BUT HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY RARE SORT OF LIKE THE PLATYPUS. THERE ARE 8 DIFFERENT SPECIES SPREAD OVER A LARGE PART OF THE OLD WORLD. THEY ARE NOCTURNAL AND LIVE IN BURROUGHS IN THE GROUND OR IN HOLLOW TREES. UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE GOOD TO EAT AND THE SCALES ARE USED IN CHINESE MEDICINE SO LIKE THE RHINO ARE NOW ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION. I WILL INCLUDE SOME PICTURES FOR THOSE WHO MAY NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS UNIQUE ANCIENT FORM OF ANTEATER. #1. WALKING
#2. & #3. SHOWS CLAWS FOR COMPARISON TO THE BELT
#4. PANGOLIANS ONLY PROTECTION CURLED UP TO AVOID LIONS IN INDIA
#5. A PANGOLIAN COAT PRESENTED TO KING GEORGE THE THIRD IN 1820

[kronckew]

saw an animal planet show on tv a couple weeks ago, a lady volunteer at a rescue centre in africa had a baby pangolin that had lost it's mother that she adopted. it was very bonded to the lady & followed her around like a puppy & liked crawling in bed with her. she taught it how to find pangolin food (ants, termites) in the wild and it eventually grew up and left her. she found were it lived and returned to visit it a year or so later & it remembered her and came running for a cuddle and tummy rub. those intimidating claws are for digging into ant/termite nests, not defence.

[M ELEY]

Did anyone see that @*!&& of crap who killed 650 pangolians in Malasia for sale on the black market! One of the most endangered species and the dirtbag had them in freezers. Hope he rots in prison! :mad:

[kronckew]

... Hope he rots in prison! :mad:

saw a pic of some of them ( a few hundred) formed up in a rectangle http://www.freesmileyfaces.com/files/emotions/angry-smiley-faces/47.gif

i'd throw them in a pit with a few very angry and hungry wild feral boars.

[BANDOOK]

YES SAD,THIS IS VERY RAMPANT IN MALAYSIA ,INDONESIA AND THAILAND,AS LONG AS THERE IS DEMAND FOR THEM IN THE CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE MEDICINE MARKET AS APHRODISIAC THIS WILL CONTINUE.
EVEN OUR INDIAN TIGERS ALL END UP THERE .
LETS SPREAD A RUMOUR SAYING THE GIANT PANDAS CURES ALL CANCERS SO THEN CHINA WILL REALIZE HOW OTHER COUNTRYS FEEL WHEN THEIR WILDLIFE IS GETING ENDANGERED .

[kronckew]

i hear that the mummified remains of chinese top political leaders since 1947 also cure cancer, STDs, impotence, warts, tumors, the plague, pneumonia, dementia, will sooth wrinkled skin and add ten years to your life and ensure you have only sons who will command huge doweries from prospective brides & who will care for their elderly parents lavishly.

an elixir made from the rice mortar used to bind the bricks on the great wall or the forbidden city is similarly curative, but you need to take it longer.