Collection Search

Beaded woman's circlet headband

Beaded woman's circlet headband

These arrows and quiver were used with a blowpipe for hunting.

The canine teeth of the Clouded leopard, native to Sarawak, were highly prized by the Iban., They were often fashioned into men’s ear ornaments such as this beaded ear ornament. The skins of the Clouded leopard were used as ceremonial coats and seating mats. Today, the Clouded leopard is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as its numbers have declined due to hunting and illegal poaching.

For hundreds of years, the Iban people have carved the highly prized beaks of the Helmeted hornbill bird into jewellery, such as the earring and ear ornament displayed here., The Iban also traded unprocessed Helmeted hornbill beaks with the Chinese people, exchanging the beaks for beads, iron, cash, crockery and large decorative jars. The Chinese coloured the beaks using the preen gland o f the Helmeted hornbill and carved them into belt buckles for high ranking officials. In the 14th century, the Chinese regarded Helmeted hornbill beaks as more valuable than jade.

For hundreds of years, the Iban people have carved the highly prized beaks of the Helmeted hornbill bird into jewellery, such as the earring and ear ornament displayed here., The Iban also traded unprocessed Helmeted hornbill beaks with the Chinese people, exchanging the beaks for beads, iron, cash, crockery and large decorative jars. The Chinese coloured the beaks using the preen gland o f the Helmeted hornbill and carved them into belt buckles for high ranking officials. In the 14th century, the Chinese regarded Helmeted hornbill beaks as more valuable than jade.

Edible bird’s nests are made by the Black nest swiftlet and the White nest swiftlet, both of which are found in South East Asia., The nests are made from a glutinous solution that is spat out in the saliva of these birds and are claimed to relieve many medical ailments. For around 1,200 years, the Chinese people have eaten the nests in soup.

Lidded container of bark