This is a chain called ‘sertali rumah-rumah’, worn by Batak bridegrooms at the wedding as decoration on their headdresses, but at other ceremonies, they can be worn by women as well. Gold beads (‘anak bura’) are strung together on plaited red cords and the principal decoration elements are plates reminiscent of buffalo horns or house roofs. Spangles, or ‘pilo-pilo’ are also attached to the plates and were thought to bring the wearer good luck. Jewellery has many different functions in island Southeast Asia, for example it was used to indicate social positions, to symbolise the importance of the social relationship between the giver and the receiver during gift exchanges, and to serve as miniature religious objects.
