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Ornament

MOA: University of British Columbia

3121/1

Part of an ornament (kapkap) made of tortoise shell. The carved shell ornament has four long points at bottom, above which are three diamond shapes with shorter points extending out from the sides. The ornament is tied, in multiple places, by cotton thread onto the back of a trimmed postcard. The image on the front of the postcard shows a black and white photo of the Benin Gallery of the Cranmore Ethnographical Museum.

  • History Of Use

    The ornamental design piece for a 'kapkap'. Kapkaps were originally said to have been worn on the forehead by a warrior. Later they became a form of currency in inter-island trade.

  • Type of Item ornament
  • Culture Solomon Islands
  • Material tortoise shell, paper, cotton fibre
  • Measurements height 13.8 cm, width 8.7 cm (overall)
  • Previous Owner Harry G. Beasley, Alan R. Sawyer, Carol Sawyer, Brian Sawyer, Dana Sawyer, Diane Sawyer, Lynn Thompson
  • Received from Carol Sawyer, Lynn Thompson, Brian Sawyer, Diane Sawyer, Dana Sawyer
  • Made in Solomon Islands
  • Creation Date before 1939
  • Ownership Date before 1939, before 2002, before July 15, 2015
  • Acquisition Date on July 15, 2015
  • Condition good
  • Accession Number 3121/0001

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