Turtle shell necklace. Composed of 16 pieces of highly polished turtle shell that increase in size from the back eye hook clasp to the centre with a large double-sided opalescent white shell pendant. The smallest shell pieces are rectangular. The larger pieces are rhombus-shaped. The largest pieces next to the pendant also have one curved edge - the edge nearest the pendant. The opalescent shell is adhered to an oval piece of turtle shell. The shells are attached by small metal loops through drilled holes. On the smaller pieces, the holes are centered but, as the pieces get larger, the holes are offset to one edge.

• Narrative

  Collected by the donor in 1976-1980, when she and her husband were living in Bougainville, where her husband worked as a mining engineer; some of the pieces were gifted to them.

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• Type of Item necklace
• Culture Western Melanesia
• Material metal, turtle shell, shell
• Measurements height 21.2 cm, width 9.2 cm, depth 1.8 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Katie Ball
• Received from Katie Ball

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• Made in Bougainville

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• Creation Date between 1975 and 1980
• Collection Date between 1976 and 1980
• Ownership Date before January 26, 2023
• Acquisition Date on January 26, 2023

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• Condition good
• Accession Number 3610/0001