Lisa Black Jewellery

In Southeast Asia and the Islands of Indonesia, the ornament and textiles produced served a great variety of functions and were connected to many social and religious practices common to the communities throughout the region. Items of adornment had huge ceremonial significance and were often family heirlooms that were deeply symbolic to the owners’ standing within society. The use of these objects provide great insights into the people and their belief systems as they are emblematic of clan wealth, power, prestige, sacredness, fertility and mystic traditions.

Early objects from this area were created from stone and shell dating back to pre history. Later objects of such significance were created from bronze, gold and other metals. The variation and symbolism found within the objects depicted and reinforced social standing and lineage and invariably, as with many other early cultures, accompanied one to the grave. The more elaborate the adornment of the deceased the higher the social standing.

In addition, ornamentation in this area was utilized as objects of trade in sophisticated systems of exchange very similar to the barter systems used in the Solomon and other South Pacific Islands. The elements that moved throughout coastal and highland societies represented diverse mythic and ritualistic traditions that were long standing and familiar to those who practiced them but remain vague and obtuse practices to outsiders.

The impulse to adorn and offer magical protection to the living or the dead body has been an irresistible activity since the beginning of time. The study and observations of the objects and textiles of the region has enabled modern societies a view-port into early cultures and their inherent practices, belief systems and organization of their social, political and mystic traditions.