These large silver bead necklaces called “nau gedi” are worn by western Tamang people north of Trisuli. Usually they have twelve to twenty beads, of a fluted barrel shape and about three centimeters in length. The holes are very large so that the beads may be strung on a knotted rope of black cotton thread or dark wool yarn, like the example shown here. A center pendant is bell-shaped and filled with pitch as are the beads.
From the first half of the 20th century.
Provenance: European private collection.
Dimensions:
Length of the necklace: 84 cm
Size of the beads: 3 x 2,2 cm
Total weight: 196,7 gr
Reference:
“Colliers ethniques d’Afrique d’Asie, d’Océanie et d’Amérique”, Leurquin, Anne, Skira, 2003, 267
“Jewelry of Nepal”, Gabriel, Hannelore, Thames & Hudson, London, 1999
“Jewellery of Tibet and the Himalayas”, Clarke, John, Harry N. Abrams. Inc publishers, 2004, p. 55
HIM138
