Shell Boars Tusk Shaped Ornament Papuan Gulf Area Papua New Guinea
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| Collection No. | SOLD but see lots more Fine Oceanic & Aboriginal Art on my website |
|---|---|
| Size | Diameter 12cm |
Shell Boars Tusk Shaped Ornament Papuan Gulf Area Papua New Guinea
Personal Ornaments in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands are some of the most beautiful objects made by the indigenous people of the Pacific Islands. Ornaments made from shells or animal teeth are not only decorations to wear but they are part of the traditional wealth and currency used by native people. They are used to pay for bridal dowries by a young man’s family or as compensation for different types of disputes like over land for gardens or used in traditional ceremonies where giving wealth to others creates future obligations or debts. Pigs are one of the most important types of traditional wealth throughout New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. It’s no wonder that ornaments made from Boars’ Tusks and Pigs’ Teeth are an important type of traditional wealth.
The superb old Necklace is made from Shell in the form of a full circle boars tusk, normally a Boars Tusk is worn as a pendant but in this case, the artist decided to make an ornament in the shape of a Boars Tusk, there is also old grass trade beads sewn at the top of the ornament. A full Circle Boars Tusk is a rare and valuable object in New Guinea and even more so in Vanuatu where they knock out the back molars of the Pig to allow the tusk to grow into a full circle. This necklace dates from the 19th Century and it would have been an important prestige wealth object.
In 1985- 1986 I made several trips to Papua New Guinea and at that time personal ornaments seemed to be readily available but when I went back in 1990-1991 all these types of shell ornaments seemed much harder to find. People said “our grandparents are gone and no one is making these any longer”
Attached are a few of my field photos showing people wearing their traditional wealth ornaments.
Published ” Tridacna Gigas ” by Eric Lancrenon 2011 This superb publication on traditional wealth ornaments from the Pacific Islands
See my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY showing the Museums and Art Galleries Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996
I have artwork for Museums and art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery. I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.
My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art. Sydney is very close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.
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