A royal Sumbese gold ceremonial necklace or 'Kanatar'

A royal Sumbese gold ceremonial necklace or 'Kanatar'

Indonesia, East Sumba, 19th century

The necklace is made of a woven gold chain in a tubular form and has a large pendant with three smaller pendants suspended from it (one missing) on each end.

This 19th-century gold ceremonial necklace from East Sumba, Indonesia, features a woven tubular chain and a large pendant with three smaller pendants, one of which is missing. The necklace measures approximately 189 cm and has provenance linked to a notable figure in the Hague.

L. approx. 189 cm

Provenance:

Collection of a notable from the Hague who stayed in the former Dutch East Indies around circa 1900; thence by descent

Purchased from the above by a distinguished Dutch collector (name is known to us) between 1970 and 1980

We are grateful to Mr. Jaap Polak for his assistance in determining the specifics and date of this finial above.

Part of the Indonesian Archipelago collection.