This hollow omega-shaped jewelry piece, known as a Mamuli, is a unique form of embellishment from the Island of Sumba in Eastern Indonesia. Each of the 7 tribes from this region has its own distinct Mamuli Jewelry design. This one includes a bird - a creature that lives in the sky half way between heaven and earth, linking the two. Mamuli are part of a family's heirlooms, believed to gain ancestral powers as they are passed along from generation to generation. They were historically worn only on ceremonial occasions, thought to have too much supernatural potency to be shown daily.

 

Although the basic omega shape of the Mamuli represents the stylized female genitalia, they were a form of tribal men's earrings, especially when having flared embellished ends such as this one. Because of their large size, they might be attached to turbans for support. Today they are worn by both men and women, often as necklaces, but with the same reverence for thier ancestral meaning. This is an especially beautiful one of silver-copper alloy with gold-gilding, approximately 50-70 years old. It is fully intact with a mild patina; the design is the same on both sides. Add to your Tribal Jewelry Collection or put on a soft cord for an extraordinary necklace.

 

Collectible Museum Quality Tribal Jewelry.

 

Measurements:

     Size = 3-1/2 inches long x 2-7/8 inches wide x 3/4 inch deep ( 1 inch = 2.54 cm)

     Weight = 1.2 oz