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Article Title

Evoking the Aso': Dayak Beaded Baby Carrier Panels with Dragon-Dog Motifs

Authors

Valerie Hector

First Page

3

ISSN

0843-5499

Last Page

21

Abstract

Although fairly well known, beaded baby carriers made by the Dayak peoples of Borneo have not been well studied. This paper focuses on one element of carrier decoration: the square or rectangular bead-plaited or -woven panels known as aban or tāp hawat in Dayak languages. Designed by men, beaded by women, aban harness spiritual power, deploying talismanic motifs that help protect a child’s body and soul from harm in the vulnerable first few years of life. One of the most potent motifs is the aso’ or dragon-dog, an imaginary creature of the watery underworld, feminine in nature, a goddess-like being the Dayak depict in many media besides beads. Analyzing eleven aban dating to ca. 1896-1965, nine of which are previously unpublished, we trace the guises aso’ assume, witnessing impressive artistic achievements while posing questions for further research.

Publisher Information

The Society of Bead Researchers is a non-profit scientific-educational corporation founded in 1981 to foster historical, archaeological, and material cultural research on beads and beadwork of all materials and periods, and to expedite the dissemination of the resultant knowledge. Membership is open to all persons involved in the study of beads, as well as those interested in keeping abreast of current trends in bead research.

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