Item X 9635 Ornament, head. Arrernte. Desert East, Northern Territory, Australia. 1902

Summary

Aboriginal people in central Australia produced a variety of body ornaments for ceremonial and decorative purposes. Headbands, armlets, aprons, pubic tassels, pendants, neckbands and other ornaments were made from materials such as human-hair string, feathers, animal bones and spinifex resin. This item was generally worn by woman as a headband with the pendant placed over the forehead. In some cases, these ornaments were 'sung' to give them certain magical powers and were traded between neighbouring groups.

Physical Description

A headband made of animal fur string with kangaroo incisors embedded in resin.