ornament
- Museum number
- Oc1904,0712.3
- Description
-
Concave, circular shell ornament of baler shell (Melo amphora) with intricate turtle shell fretwork secured, through central perforation, to white concave side with twisted plant fibre cord through one small white shell bead. Fretwork of cruciform in-filled with concentric triangles and enclosed by plain and crenellated circle. Yellow striations from shell exterior remain on ground and polished reverse.
- Production date
- 19thC-20thC(early)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 10.90 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Faded pencil on reverse reads: 'Sent by Captain Barton'; later hand reads: 'N. GUINEA'. BM label records Port Moresby. Made by Roro speaking peoples in Central Province, they were widely traded and worn by Motu Koita men as part of ceremonial dress (Lewis-Harris 2010: 461). Comment by Heather Donoghue, Ph.D candidate, UEA, 2020.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1904
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Oc1904,0712.3
