Naga Necklace with Heads

This Naga necklace with heads was made in the 19th century in the northeastern border region of India by a member of one of the nearly 1800 Naga tribes that reside in that mountainous region. Just one of the many styles of necklaces made and worn by the Naga, this specific type of necklace would probably have been worn by a warrior. It is made out of brass and embellished with projections, some of which look like human heads.

The heads on this necklace indicate the connection the Naga drew between human death and agricultural fertility, and therefore the importance assigned to warriors who were successful headhunters. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has several examples of this type of necklace.