Manik merupakan perhiasan diri yang digemari dan masih digunakan oleh masyarakat etnik di Kepulauan Borneo. Untaian manik menjadi hiasan pilihan pada pakaian tradisional selain daripada perhiasan perak.
Hiasan manik banyak digunakan oleh suku kaum etnik di Sarawak seperti Orang Ulu (kaum Kayan dan Kenyah), Lun Bawang, Kelabit, Iban, Bidayuh dan Melanau. Manakala di Sabah manik amat digemari oleh suku kaum Kadazan Dusun, Rungus dan Murut.
Pelbagai jenis manik yang sering digunakan antaranya manik yang diperbuat daripada gigi binatang, tulang, cengkerang dan serpihan logam. Manik yang diperbuat daripada serpihan kaca dan batu permata diperkenalkan sekitar abad ke 16 oleh pedagang luar terutamanya dari Negara Eropah, Venice dan Behormia.
Manik menjadi perhiasan diri yang dipakai sejak dahulu kerana ianya melambangkan status dan kemewahan seseorang. Manik juga dijadikan sebagai pertukaran mata wang dan hantaran perkahwinan.
Sehingga kini kegiatan membuat kraf manik masih dijalankan oleh penduduk tempatan di Sabah dan Sarawak. Manik-manik dijahit dan disulam indah menjadi perhiasan pakaian, tali pinggang, hiasan kepala, bakul dan keperluan harian lainnya.
Beads have always been popular among the various ethnic groups in Borneo and are widely used in local handicraft. Beads, along with silver ornaments, also adorn many traditional costumes in both Sabah and Sarawak.
In Sarawak the major bead-using communities include the Orang Ulu (the Kayan and Kenyah), the Lun Bawang, Kelabit, Iban, Bidayuh and Melanau. In Sabah, the Kadazan Dusun, Rungus and Murut also favour beads.
There are many types of beads found locally. Indigenous beads include those made from animal teeth, tusks or bone, shell discs, and even small brass bells. However, beads made of glass and semi-precious stone were introduced via trade, mostly since the 16th century. These large ornamental beads and minute glass seed beads were generally of European origin, namely from Venice and Bohemia.
However beads weren't merely ornamental. They had myriad uses: as a medium of exchange or currency, for ritual use, as dowry, personal adornment, for crafts, and even as funery goods. Traditionally beads and beaded objects also reflected one's social status and personal wealth. Many of the older, heirloom beads even had specific local names and value accorded to it.
Today beadwork is still practiced locally, mainly by women artisans. Beads are strung, threaded, stitched or even 'woven' to embellish various articles of clothing and objects. These include accessories (necklaces, belts and girdles), headgear (hats, headbands and sunhats), women's clothing (skirts and beaded collars), men's clothing (coats and seat mats), and everyday objects (baby carriers, baskets and containers).
Sumber : Bahagian Pemuliharaan, Kraftangan Malaysia
Artikel ini telah ditulis pada
hari Rabu
, Rabu, Februari 20, 2013
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