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Hands Around the World |
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Specializing in Hand Made Treasures from Around the World
Jewelry, Body Ornaments, and Beadwork
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then click the top-left BACK button to return.
Indonesia
Sulawesi
Torajaland
The most traditional area of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is called Torajaland or Tana Toraja, which means land or people of the mountains. In this remote area, many people still follow the "way of the ancestors". It is still possible to find the trappings for the Torajan Warrior. Helmets "Topi" and neck ornaments "Tora-tora" were worn by the Torajan warrior when going into battle, and are still used today for funeral processions and other traditional rituals and events. For the swords of the traditional Torajan warrior, click here.
A rare and collectible "Topi" or warriors helmet. The helmet part is hand carved of wood. The horns are carved from real water buffalo horn decorated with feathers, beads, and fringe.
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| From tip of feathers to tip of feathers, this helmet measures a full 3 feet wide. The wooden helmet itself is 9 1/2" in diameter and and 11 1/2" tall. Item Ta100-1332 - $242.00 |
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| Detail showing the hand carved wood helmet part of the headdress. | Detail showing the hand carved horns made of water buffalo horn, feathers, and beads. |
When in battle, the Toraja warrior also wore a traditional neck ornament called "Tora-tora". These were hand carved of wood, bone, and horn. The neck ornaments below are fine examples of this traditional body adornment.
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| Traditional Tora-tora of wood and wild boar tusks. The width of the necklace from the tip to tip is 14". The central figure measures 7" tall. Item Ta100-1344 - $74.75 | Traditional Tora-tora of wood, water buffalo horn and bone. The width of the necklace from the tip to tip is 14". The central figure measures 7 1/2" tall. Item Ta100-1345 - $74.75 |
Borneo
Dayak
The Dayak are to Asia as the American Indian to the Americas. They are the native peoples of the islands. The Dayak of Borneo are in 12 major tribes. Isolated in the vast rainforests of Borneo, they were headhunters until the year 1965. At this time the Indonesian government negotiated peace between the tribes, although rumors of continued headhunting have occurred. The Dayak are a very culturally intact and interesting people, living much as their ancestors have for hundreds of years.
Beads are very valuable to the Dayaks, from the time of the European traders beads have been used as a precious currency and show the family's wealth. Sometimes a single large bead was not only worth a whole village but the inhabitants of it.
The Kenyan Dayak tribe is know for being a "long ear" tribe. Traditionally, the lobes of the ears were slowly stretched over time by adding heavier metal rings. This tradition can still be seen with the older members of the tribe, but is falling out of favor with the younger people.
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| Kenyan "long ear" Dayak lady. Photo by Hands
Around the World.
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This young Kenyan lady is the artist who made the hat and dance belt shown here with her and sold below. She is the daughter of the "long ear" lady pictured. Photo by Hands Around the World. |
This beautiful and intricately beaded hat is traditional from the Kenyan Dayak tribe.
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7 1/2' in diameter and 7" tall. Item Bo0793 - $176.50 |
The dance belt below is from the Kenyan tribe. It is made of trade beads and brass bells. Dance belts are used in Kenyan ceremonies.
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Kenyan trade bead dance belt - 38" long x 4" wide. Item Bo8 - $142.00 |
South American Indians
Ecuador
Shuar Indians
The Shuar Indians live in the Amazon Basin of Ecuador. They are a sub tribe of the notorious Jivaro. In addition to the Shuar, there are three other sub-tribes of the Jivaro, they are the Ashuar, the Aguaruna, and the Huambisa . Although many peoples through out the world have taken the heads of their enemies, the Jivaro are the only ones to practice head shrinking. The shrunken heads are called tsantsa. The Jivaro were fierce warriors. A Spanish governor who was greedy for gold was killed by pouring molten gold down his throat. The notoriety of this incident and their practice of taking and shrinking heads kept outsiders at bay. Thus they were never conquered by the Spaniard and are called "the unconquered ones".
For more Shuar art see "Weapons".
The Shuar are a very artistic tribe. One art form that they are very adept at is the making of jewelry from seeds, nuts, teeth, bone and other natural objects. They are also musical and perform many traditional dances and rituals. They make dance belts which are hand woven. From the woven part of the belt they hang beads, from the beads they continue down with the shells of nuts and/or sea shells which rattle when they dance.
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| Shuar women dancing with dance belts. Photo by Hands Around the World. | Shuar artist with the dance belts sold below. Photo by Hands Around the World. |
This dance belt is beautifully made and bought directly from the Shuar - rare and a real collectors item.
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| Belt length 36". Item E100-1077 - $92.00 |
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| Shuar mother and daughter modeling seed jewelry they have made. |
Quichua Indians
The Quichua Indians of the Andean Highlands of Ecuador make beautiful and intricate jewelry using seeds and other natural objects as well as beads.
Hand made seed and bead earrings from Ecuador.
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| Item E100-1595 - $8.75 |
Venezuela
Yekuana Indians [more about the Yekuana Indians]
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| Yekuana Indians in traditional dress. Photos by Hands Around the World. |
The Yekuana Indians of the Venezuelan rainforests are well known for their artistic ability. The are excellent canoe makers and basket weavers. They also do beautifully complex beadwork.
Penare Indians
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| Penare Indians still dress traditionally. Photos by Hands Around the World. |
Penare (Pah-nah-ree) Indians live in the Amazon Basin of Venezuela. The Penare are a very traditional people. They still live in thatched huts, usually on a river bank.
Guahibo Indians [more about the Guahibo Indians]
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| Guahibo shaman - photo courtesy of Mary Lou Walberg |
The Guahibo Indians of the Venezuelan Amazon make jewelry of seeds, beads and woodcarvings. Often their jewelry has a Christian theme as there is a strong mission influence in the tribe.
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| Hand carved wooden crucifix on a hand made fiber cord. Hangs 14" in length, crucifix is approx. 1" x 1 1/2". Item Vz100-0867 - $8.50 |
Piaroa Indians
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| Piaroa Shaman - photo Hands Around the World | Piaroa children - photo courtesy of Mary Lou Walberrg |
The Piaroa (Pee-ah-row-ah) Tribe lives in the Amazon rain forest of Venezuela. Their mode of transportation is by the bongo, a form of dugout canoe with which they navigate the tributaries of the Amazon. They are very artistic and make many traditional crafts including necklaces made of seeds and beads, often with bones or teeth of rainforest animals as well.
Huichol Indians [more about the Huichol Indians]
The Huichol Indians of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico are a very traditional tribe. They still speak their native language and adhere to native customs and beliefs. They are known for their beautiful yarn paintings and bead work. They cover a surface with bees wax and press tiny colorful beads into the wax to make beautifully detailed designs. They typically take peyote before they do their art work. The peyote sends them on travels where they see things that they then incorporate into their work. They also create intricate beaded jewelry.
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| Huichol shaman blessing necklace sold below. Photo by Hands Around the World. | Huichol jewelry artist. Photo by Hands Around the World. |
Hand beaded ink pens by the Huichol. The beaded covers remove so that you can put it on another pen when the ink runs out. They fit a Bic-type pen and are approx. 7" long with the pen.
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Item Mx0775 -$18.75 |
Item Mx0778 -$18.75 |
These three-dimensional Huichol eggs are made of wood and covered with beads. They can be used as Christmas ornaments or to decorate any time of the year. They are very collectible.
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Approx. 1 3/4" tall. Item Mx0872 - $15.50 |
