A brush? Or something else
 

Here is a little curiouslity I have had for a couple of years now.

The Brush to the centre of the image appeared to be attached to the centre of the Naga spear pictured when I bought it but when it arrived it was detached but not broken...however the loop is too tight to go back over all that hair so it may not have been attached in the first place.

If it is indeed Naga :shrug: is it actually just a brush or a ceremonial object.

I have looked at length through both comprehensive Naga references I have here but cannot see anything similar....any ideas?

The beadwork to the handle has a Southern African look.

Thanks Colin,

I real little mystery.

I see similar beads on some Naga Jewelry.
I see similar sized and style items as waistband dancing decorations in Naga regions but all with goat hair and smaller ones for earrings...however this one is a reasonably stiff bristled white haired example...capable of cleaning but shows no sign of such use?

Although its short, could this be a fly whisk for waving away annoying insects?

Ian.

Hi Ian,

The closest thing I can find is a vanity brush...it could even be American Indian....more when I get my PC back...

Ian it doesn't look like Native American work to me.

The beads also look newer like the 1920s or later...... :shrug:

Battara, I don't think American Indian can yet be discounted. The closest thing to this form is a Passamaquoddy vanity brush.

Also, although without firm validation there is this passage from a beaded bag with similar coloured beads of the same size.

"PASSAMAQUODDY (possible) Collection of Milwaukee Public Museum A bag quite similar in style was pictured on a Passamaquoddy man, and the blue trim and liberal use of crystal and light blue beads also point in the Maritime direction."

The sheer number of Indian made beaded works made and sold during the early 20th century might lead to a firm answer eventually.

Hi,

in the first picture left on top there is a copper container with a spoon on a chain.
What is this item for, and where does it come from ?

Dirk

Hello Dirk,

it's a lime container from South India or Ceylon for betel chewing, late 19th or early 20th century. Maybe Gavin can confirm.

Regards,
Detlef

Lime Container
 

Hi,

I can confirm that the lime container is from Ceylon for chewing lime accompanying betel leaf chewing. The bells are tiger bells I believe and look like thy have some age to them.

Rgds.

Anandalal N.

Thanks for bringing this back, I totally missed the post Dirk, my apologies.

The other item with the elephant are scales within, likely Burma.

Gavin

Hard to say about the age as it doesn't ever looked used but it has the same high detail as those I have seen that are heavily used so I would think 25-30 years each side of 1900 is a fair call.

Gavin

A blast from the past...
 

Long forgotten and still within the cabinets at home...

I found this image earlier this year... given the context of the image and the miniature headdress, perhaps it is American Indian afterall?