Earring made from the beak of a helmeted hornbill

Unknown artist

Sabaw is a pendant made from the beak of a helmeted hornbill, called anggang gading. This is the helmet part or the tubercle on the beak of a certain species of hornbill, the Rhinoplax vigil. The front part of the helmet is, like the beak, sand coloured and the back part is red. This piece was cut to create a pendant with a red band on the side and a sand-coloured top. On the pointed side the beak was cut in such a way that a hook was created there, to be worn in the stretched earlobe. In some specimens a hole was made in the top of the pendant, so that the pendant could be used as an amulet to hang on the cord of a sword (mandau), possibly decorated with beads. This has not been done here. The pendants were in use by the Kenyah-Kayan Dayak of East Kalimantan. \In this case, they were made into an earring. Aso motifs have been carved into the red. The aso is a dragon-like creature. Also carved into the sand-colored top are Aso motifs, dragons with jaws sliding over each other. The eyes of the animals are missing. \Wearing these pendants was reserved for men who had proven to have a lot of experience or courage, for example by killing or decapitating someone. It would bring bad luck or disease if someone who had not yet done so were to wear such a pendant. The Kenyah believed that people have a certain life force, beruwa. In men and high nobility this was already higher at birth than in ordinary people. Yet this power had to be nurtured, among other things by obtaining a head. If the certain laden jewelry was still carried, while the strength was not strong enough, this could lead to parib. Parib was the anger of spirits, which could lead to disease. \The Aso motif The Aso is a dragon-like figure and in all parts of Borneo the symbol of the feminine and of the underworld. An animal that lives in the water or under the ground. The dragon goddess offered protection in daily life and sacrifices to the goddess could promote the fertility of the land and of the people. She is therefore the symbol of life force and fertility and rebirth after death (she watches over the dead). This may also explain why men who kill, (have) this symbolism incorporated into their ear jewelry.‖ She is associated with the earth, water, storms and lightning. Because it is dangerous to name the goddess, the Kayan call her representation aso, which literally means dog. The motif itself actually represents only the head, with a tongue sticking out, called hudo' or kambe or also aran (lightning). \ElshoutHeystRodgersSellato