Description AN INDONESIAN GOLD PECTORAL
Indonesia, Timor, late 19th to early 20th century. The pectoral of circular form, with five half-spherical protuberances, each decorated with a gold ball surrounded by scrolling designs in gold wire, the half-spheres themselves surrounded with gold wire scrolling designs as well. Head hunting warriors were often presented with these pectorals and they were also presented at marriage negotiations. These disks are cosmic symbols and represent the sun and moon, the male and female.
Provenance: Dr. Borwen Leuth, Hamburg, Germany.
Condition: Good condition with minor traces of age and wear, some small tears, minor nicks and dents.
Weight: 100.0 g
Dimensions: Diameter 13.7 cm
Literature comparison: Similar pectorals are published in Anne Richter and Bruce Carpenter, Gold Jewellery from the Indonesian Archipelago, page 98, Editions Didier Millet, 2012.