Profile portrait of the wife of the Ungma Gaonbura (Image number L.014, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)
The wife of the Gaonbura (government post or 'headman') wears full dance dress. Sheholds an axe-shaped, ceremonial dao in her hand and wears ear ornaments of crystal or glass (tongbang). On her head she has spiral brass rings fixed with a string (yongmen), which among the Chongli only wome...
| Full title: |
Profile portrait of the wife of the Ungma Gaonbura (Image number L.014, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection) [electronic resource]. |
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| Format: | Photo |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1923, ©1926.
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| Series: |
SOAS Digital Library.
ASC. REGIONS. RSA. JPMILLS. ILOAA. |
| Subjects: | |
| Online access: |
Click here to view record |
| Summary: |
The wife of the Gaonbura (government post or 'headman') wears full dance dress. Sheholds an axe-shaped, ceremonial dao in her hand and wears ear ornaments of crystal or glass (tongbang). On her head she has spiral brass rings fixed with a string (yongmen), which among the Chongli only women of the Pongen, somentimes of the Lungkam clan are allowed to wear. The three hornbill feathers in her hair show that her husband or father have performed mithun sacrifices, one for each feather. The chain slung across her body cloth bears many brass bells, showing that she is the wife of a rich man of high status. Her body cloth is of an unusal design for a woman. (Ungma is a village of the Chongli language group) |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1923, ©1926.
|
| Subjects: | |
| Series: |
SOAS Digital Library.
ASC. REGIONS. RSA. JPMILLS. ILOAA. |
| Access: |
Image: © 1926, The Estate of J.P. Mills. Text: © 1996, Geraldine Hobson. |
| Place of Publication: |
India -- Nagaland -- Mokokchung District -- Ungma. |