NAGA WARRIOR'S DAO (KNIFE), BELT, & APRON SET

Harry L Neufeld

Chang, Khiamniungan, Sangtam, etc. Naga warrior - early 1900's - classic three-part set plus brass disc, consisting of a) the 11" x 26" belt, a sheath of wood to hold the dao, or knife, simple tattooing at the back bottom, a cutout in the center allowing for cowry-inset, bone-sectioned leather panels with finely braided edges to attach to each other, thus forming the back of the belt, simple wooden struts with twine to clasp the fronts of the leather panels, and human and dyed goat's hair adornment indicative of headhunting, b) the 24" dao, an iron blade tucked into an iron band wrapped tightly with very fine, very worn cane, with a sap-encrusted wooden shaft now smooth with age, and thick plaits of dyed goat's hair stuck along the shaft length into longitudinal holes on each side, c) the apron, a 17" x 12" three-section, handwoven cloth protector fully stitched with rows of cowry shells, with perimeters reinforced inside with wooden struts, and d) a brass disc, in and of itseld a symbol of status and wealth, worn on the apron as added protection 

$1,250.00

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