This striking piece is a Yangoru Boiken "talipoon" bride price payment. Talipoon come in a large variety of whimsical shapes and styles. This type with the wood bird head attached are commonly called "taro" because of the bulbous shape of the body. This example has a pleasing rotund form, a nice carved bamboo bird's head and unusually strong remains of pigments. While all talipoon were attached to cut green turban sea shells; the thickness of this shell indicates that this talipoon is a male "humbuli." The piece is 17 ½" in height as mounted. sold