Silver Loran Ceremonial Earrings | Tanimbar Islands

Pair of male ceremonial silver earrings, locally known as loran, from the Tanimbar Islands.

Identical in shape, they feature a central open arch element (omega-shaped), with a semicircular profile open at the bottom, enriched at the lower ends, on the sides and on the upper part by decorative projections composed mainly of small spherical elements. Along the lower edges of the opening, additional small ornamental spheres are applied.

In the local tradition, Tanimbar men artificially pierced and stretched their earlobes to create large openings, through which these earrings were inserted and left to hang from the lower part of the lobe.

These examples retain ancient cotton residues on the upper part.

Provenience: Tanimbar Islands, southeastern Maluku, Indonesia
Period: 19th–20th century

Dim: 3.2 x 2.5 cm (1.26 x 0.98 inches).

Weight: 23.8 gr. (0.84 oz).