Oceanic Art - Enlargement

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This large shell piece is a form of bride wealth in the Arawe area of southwest New Britain. The shell is a very large gold-lipped kina shell with a finely woven strap and three attachments of pre-1900 glass trade beads tipped by clusters of dog's teeth. Because of its exceptional size, the piece would probably not have been worn but instead carried over the shoulder as a display item. There is a crescent-shaped crack along the edge where the dog's teeth attachments hang but the crack is stable and mostly covered with the brown patina. The shell itself is 8 ¾" in diameter, comes mounted on a custom display stand. sold