Sarawak Museum Department holds exhibition on diverse use of beads

KUCHING: Sarawak Museum Department is holding an exhibition on beads themed ‘Diversity in ‘l’he Usage’ in conjunction with the 5th Borneo International Beads Conference 2017 ( BlBCo) at Sarawak Textile Museum from Oct 3 to 31.

Director of Sarawak Museum Department, lpoi Datan will officiate at the launching ceremony on Oct12.

The press statement said this exhibition is celebrating the diversity and beauty of beads and disseminating information on how beads are used in Sarawak.

Objects to be exhibited are head gears, necklaces, baby carriers, beaded baskets, costumes, beaded walking sticks, beaded weapon and tobacco box and many more.

Made from various materials, beads are small and beautiful.

They’ve been around for 40,000 years, traded in Southeast Asia since preChristian times. They were brought into Borneo through trade and were bartered for local jungle produce.

Beads are produced in various shapes, colours and sizes.

Their usage was according to the custom and culture of an ethnic group. In Sarawak, headgears play a role in the lives of almost all ethnic groups, especially as indicators of social status and wealth.

Valued as personal adornments, they are also used in healing ceremonies and as a form of currency.

Until today, headgears remain personal adornments, embellish homes, and are sought by tourists as souvenirs.