Material: Silver
Style: Flores, Indonesia
Size: Height 2.5 cm, Width 1.75 cm
Order Number: MHSAFE21

Flores is a long narrow island, with central mountains, and 12 ethnic societies. Their jewelry is extravagant.

The symbolic omega open oval form appears in a variety of ornamentation. It goes back to Neolithic Taiwan in about 500 BC in the jade earrings of the Austronesian people and is found throughout Southeast Asia and mirrors the Austronesian diaspora. The greatest variety in form and size are in Indonesia.

The form symbolises the female genitalia which itself symbolises fertility and fecundity.

19th century or earlier.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Flores Earrings 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Central or East Flores, Indonesia
Size: Height 6.5 cm, Width 8.25 cm
Order Number: MHSAFT1

Flores is a long narrow island, with central mountains, and 12 ethnic societies. It was named by the Portuguese after the flowers on the east coast. Their jewelry is extravagant.

This double-axe pendant from Flores is called a taka in the Lio language. They resemble Dong Song ceremonial bronze axes. They are worn around the neck or on the forehead.

Taka are among the most treasured heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation. They belong to the ancestors and are only occasionally used as marriage gifts. They are stored away and blood sacrifices are carried out before they are looked at or worn.

The shape is an elaborate open oval, the ends of which cross over each other and are beaten flat.

The symbolic omega open oval form appears in a variety of ornamentation. It goes back to Neolithic Taiwan in about 500 BC in the jade earrings of the Austronesian people and is found throughout Southeast Asia and mirrors the Austronesian diaspora. The greatest variety in form and size are in Indonesia.

The form symbolises the female genitalia which itself symbolises fertility and fecundity.

There are similar examples in Gold Jewellery of the Indonesian Archipelago, Anne Richter and Bruce Carpenter, Editions Didier Millet 2011, pages 208 – 209.

Early – mid 20th century.

Map of Flores.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Flores Taka 1 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Central or East Flores, Indonesia
Size: Height 7 cm, Width 8.25 cm
Order Number: MHSAFT2

Flores is a long narrow island, with central mountains, and 12 ethnic societies. It was named by the Portuguese after the flowers on the east coast. Their jewelry is extravagant.

This double-axe pendant from Flores is called a taka in the Lio language. They resemble Dong Song ceremonial bronze axes. They are worn around the neck or on the forehead.

Taka are among the most treasured heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation. They belong to the ancestors and are only occasionally used as marriage gifts. They are stored away and blood sacrifices are carried out before they are looked at or worn.

The shape is an elaborate open oval, the ends of which cross over each other and are beaten flat.

The symbolic omega open oval form appears in a variety of ornamentation. It goes back to Neolithic Taiwan in about 500 BC in the jade earrings of the Austronesian people and is found throughout Southeast Asia and mirrors the Austronesian diaspora. The greatest variety in form and size are in Indonesia.

The form symbolises the female genitalia which itself symbolises fertility and fecundity.

There are similar examples in Gold Jewellery of the Indonesian Archipelago, Anne Richter and Bruce Carpenter, Editions Didier Millet 2011, pages 208 – 209.

Early – mid 20th century.

Map of Flores.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Flores Taka 2 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Central or East Flores, Indonesia
Size: Height 5.25 cm, Width 6 cm
Order Number: MHSAFT3

Flores is a long narrow island, with central mountains, and 12 ethnic societies. It was named by the Portuguese after the flowers on the east coast. Their jewelry is extravagant.

This double-axe pendant from Flores is called a taka in the Lio language. They resemble Dong Song ceremonial bronze axes. They are worn around the neck or on the forehead.

Taka are among the most treasured heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation. They belong to the ancestors and are only occasionally used as marriage gifts. They are stored away and blood sacrifices are carried out before they are looked at or worn.

The shape is an elaborate open oval, the ends of which cross over each other and are beaten flat.

The symbolic omega open oval form appears in a variety of ornamentation. It goes back to Neolithic Taiwan in about 500 BC in the jade earrings of the Austronesian people and is found throughout Southeast Asia and mirrors the Austronesian diaspora. The greatest variety in form and size are in Indonesia.

The form symbolises the female genitalia which itself symbolises fertility and fecundity.

There are similar examples in Gold Jewellery of the Indonesian Archipelago, Anne Richter and Bruce Carpenter, Editions Didier Millet 2011, pages 208 – 209.

Early – mid 20th century.

Map of Flores.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Flores Taka 3 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Gold
Style: Taka: Central or East Flores, Indonesia; Chain: India
Size: Taka: Height 4.5 cm, Width 5 cm; Chain: Height: 21 cm
Order Number: MHSAFT4

Flores is a long narrow island, with central mountains, and 12 ethnic societies. It was named by the Portuguese after the flowers on the east coast. Their jewelry is extravagant.

This double-axe pendant from Flores is called a taka in the Lio language. They resemble Dong Song ceremonial bronze axes. They are worn around the neck or on the forehead.

Taka are among the most treasured heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation. They belong to the ancestors and are only occasionally used as marriage gifts. They are stored away and blood sacrifices are carried out before they are looked at or worn.

The shape is an elaborate open oval, the ends of which cross over each other and are beaten flat.

The symbolic omega open oval form appears in a variety of ornamentation. It goes back to Neolithic Taiwan in about 500 BC in the jade earrings of the Austronesian people and is found throughout Southeast Asia and mirrors the Austronesian diaspora. The greatest variety in form and size are in Indonesia.

The form symbolises the female genitalia which itself symbolises fertility and fecundity.

There are similar examples in Gold Jewellery of the Indonesian Archipelago, Anne Richter and Bruce Carpenter, Editions Didier Millet 2011, pages 208 – 209.

Taka: Early – mid 20th century.

Chain:  Mid – late 20th century.

Map of Flores.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Flores Taka 4 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Silver
Style: Lembata, Indonesia
Size: Height 3.5 cm, Width 2 cm
Order Number: MHSALE1

Lembata is a small island just off the eastern coast east of Flores  in the Lesser Sunda islands,  formerly known as Lomblen island. It is the largest island in a small group, which share a culture known as Lamaholot.

Unique to Lembata these earrings play an important part in marriage exchanges. The granulated ends may represent the grains seen in the head of a ripe rice stalk.

As in many of the arid areas of the Lesser Sundas, the planting of rice is limited and this favoured grain is only eaten on ritual occasions and even then is mixed with maize.

The shape is an elongated  open oval. The symbolic omega open oval form appears in a variety of ornamentation. It goes back to Neolithic Taiwan in about 500 BC in the jade earrings of the Austronesian people and is found throughout Southeast Asia and mirrors the Austronesian diaspora. The greatest variety in form and size are in Indonesia.

The form symbolises the female genitalia which itself symbolises fertility and fecundity.

There are similar examples in Ethnic Jewellery from Indonesia, Continuity and Evolution, Bruce Carpenter, Editions Didier Millet 2011, page 242.

Map of Lembata.

19th – early 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Antique Lembata Earrings appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Gold
Style: Flores, Riti
Size: Height 6.5 cm, width 4 cm
Order Number: J6

Flores is a long narrow island, with central mountains, and 12 ethnic societies. Their jewelry is extravagant.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Flores Earrings 6 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.

Material: Gold
Style: Central Flores
Size: Height 6.5 cm, width 4.5 cm
Order Number: J7

Flores is a long narrow island, with central mountains, and 12 ethnic societies. Their jewelry is extravagant.

Gold aristocratic ear pendants with filigree decoration. These are given as engagement presents to prospective brides. However, they are essentially the property of the ancestors.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).

The post Flores Earrings 7 appeared first on Murni's in Bali.