Collection Online

Shell necklace
(20th century)

Medium
conus shell, fibre string

Measurements
66.4 × 19.5 × 1.3 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Louise and Sam Dawson, 2008
© the artists

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Safia/Bibira, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea

Accession Number
2008.315

Department
Pacific Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation

Physical description
The necklace is a fine example of strings of graded very old bases of conus shells intricately tied with bush string. It could be worn for dancing - when the centre of the length of jewellery would be worn tight at the front of the neck then tied at the back with the candle nut dance rattle hanging mid-back.