Shawl (Nyauni)

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-scarves, shawls, & stoles

Culture Naga

Dateearly to mid 20th Century

Made AtMon, Nagaland, India

Made AtMyanmar, Asia

MediumCotton and wool

Dimensions50 1/2 × 124 in. (128.3 × 315 cm)

Credit LineAnonymous Gift

Object number2016.15.12

DescriptionThis shawl, called a nyauni, was made by the Konyak tribe of Nagaland and may only be worn by wealthy tribe members. It, like many Naga shawls, consists of three pieces individually woven and later sewn into one piece. In Naga culture, only women spin and weave. Furthermore, working with red dye is restricted to elderly women or women who are not of much value to their tribe, as it is believed that young women working with red will die violently. As nyauni feature red fields, it is likely that this object was made by an elderly Konyak woman.

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