Timor, Indonesia
Circa 1920
Hardwood, multicolor glass trade beads
Width 2 1/4 in (5.7 cm), Length 7 in (17.8 cm)
Provenance: Galerie Jean Baptisite Bacquart, Paris, France
Hair ornaments of this type were produced in Timor as prestige accessories worn by men and women of social standing, combining locally worked hardwood with imported glass trade beads acquired through regional exchange networks. The curved hardwood form is carved and polished to a dark patina, with a decorative disc or boss at the crown that anchors the hanging bead strands. The combination of local carving tradition with imported bead materials reflects Timor's position within the maritime trade networks of eastern Indonesia.
The multicolor bead strands — incorporating red, blue, yellow, and white glass beads — represent accumulated trade wealth and would have signaled the wearer's status and connections within the community. The piece dates to approximately 1920, placing it within the period of Dutch colonial presence in the region, when trade goods including glass beads circulated widely through Timorese communities. Its passage through Galerie Jean Baptisite Bacquart in Paris places it within the established European tribal art market of the late 20th century.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Timor, Indonesia
Circa 1920
Hardwood, multicolor glass trade beads
Width 2 1/4 in (5.7 cm), Length 7 in (17.8 cm)
Provenance: Galerie Jean Baptisite Bacquart, Paris, France
Hair ornaments of this type were produced in Timor as prestige accessories worn by men and women of social standing, combining locally worked hardwood with imported glass trade beads acquired through regional exchange networks. The curved hardwood form is carved and polished to a dark patina, with a decorative disc or boss at the crown that anchors the hanging bead strands. The combination of local carving tradition with imported bead materials reflects Timor's position within the maritime trade networks of eastern Indonesia.
The multicolor bead strands — incorporating red, blue, yellow, and white glass beads — represent accumulated trade wealth and would have signaled the wearer's status and connections within the community. The piece dates to approximately 1920, placing it within the period of Dutch colonial presence in the region, when trade goods including glass beads circulated widely through Timorese communities. Its passage through Galerie Jean Baptisite Bacquart in Paris places it within the established European tribal art market of the late 20th century.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
