4122

Sex Organ Earring Collection

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Sex Organ Earring Collection
SOLD
1,250.00USD+ buyer's premium (250.00)
This item SOLD at 2021 Mar 12 @ 11:22UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
Lot: 4122
Header:
Title: Sex Organ Earring Collection
Description: An essential element of bride price on Sumba is mamuli, earrings representing female sexual organs. They were made in a bewildering range of styles from plain to extremely elaborate, and were made of gold, silver, and copper; the copper ones can be copper or plated with tin and other metals. Collection of 20 examples, in brass and tin plate, showing a range of designs from the very plainest with rudimentary feet, to a pair of oversized examples, one with pellet decoration and confronted armed men on the feet. Others show addorsed animals and birds. All are a testament to the creativity and inventiveness of Sumba metalworkers. See Opitz, pp. 207-09.
Low Estimate: 500
High Estimate: 750
Pedigree Collection: All purchased from the natives on Sumba and Timor in 1996. They were still being used in bride price when we were there. Our guide, who had a
degree and taught school, was trying to get bride price to marry his girlfriend.