An Inpui (Kabui) Beaded Belt (Langsiam) Found on American Online Portal|Naga Brass Beaded Belt
This is not a unique case but can be safely posited as an absence of research or ‘research deficit’ in relation to Inpui history and culture. We are aware that much work is needed to be done yet with few taking up the initiative and with or without any support for such research this remains a daunting task resting on the imagination of the few literate. There is not much ground initiative for preservation and sustaining indigenous culture, revered tribal property and artifacts apart from the conduct of annual festivals and cultural activities here and there. But there are some realizations of the need to revisit the past, record, and revive Inpui historical and cultural heritage.
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| Images as per Cultural Platina & Etsy |
So, what is Langsiam?
Langsiam is a (brass) beaded necklace worn by the male during Tataak (a ritual performed for the departed soul). Worn not necessarily on the neck but below the arm. Langsiam, according to elders was owned only by the male who has a sister(s) (basan nu) and was made or crafted only by the sister, as a gift. But in some context, instead of the beaded ones, cotton threads were used.
This artifact was stumbled upon during random online browsing on Inpui Naga in 2017.
Description of the object:
Naga adornment, authentic Impui (Inpui) Naga beaded belt with brass bells.
Color combination: Red, brown, orange, green, yellow, white, blue and black glass beads.
Ten hands carved bone spacers, nine bras belts, plus fibre.
Collected in Burma, near the border of Nagaland, directly from the Burmese Naga warrior, Dunini in the Naga village of Haochong from the Inpui Naga tribe.
Dimensions: Measures approximately 32 x5 inches.
Condition of the object: Considering its age which is estimated to be mid1900’s.
Provenance: David Howard Senior # Collected somewhere in the 1940s
Price: 1700 GBP & 2316 US $
A response to our email from Cultural Patina (US)(10/05/2018):
A response to our email from Cultural Patina (US)(10/05/2018):
"Good to hear from you and thank you for contacting me. Yes, this piece was acquired from the David Howard Collection. It is the only one, I have ever seen so I purchased it to add to my Naga collection, which is the second-largest in the United States and you will find the entire collection on culturalpatina.etsy.com or culturalpatina.com. Howard’s grandson occasionally has a sale on the line every couple of months. Do not have any more data than this. Hope this helps."
Warmest
Dennis Brinning
Purveyor of All Things Unique and Beautiful
Culturalpatina.etsy.com
dlbent@aol.com
NB: More input is required and if you have further information kindly comment below or write to us at isaacnka@gmail.com.
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ReplyDeleteWe Inpui People's need to take up
This lost attire for today's generation use
It's amazing To know our Impui Naga( Inpui) attire keeping safe in America which we have lost many years
This is awfully magnificent one. No one is dare to do such kind of thing but its tell you bro that you are uplifting your family ,your community and your tribe. No price but the reason itself is worth. We are yet to go with the flow but we need to flow and work a double labour for our culture. Thank you Sir for this amazing research and I see your acknowledgement in near future.
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