Description (Labels & Markings)
A small label attached to the object reads: '23.1483 / Shell money / Solomon I.'
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
[From catalogue card:] 'Shell money - with trade-beads. Necklace.'
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
A length of shell money, tied into a loop. Predominantly made of small white shell beads, with occasional sections decorated with white, blue and red glass beads.
Event Date 6/10/2015
Author: maa

Context (Analysis)
Strand of white shell money with some zones of alternating red and white glass trade beads. The shell beads are very regular and magnification shows why: each bead is the shoulder of a Pterygia (=Imbricaria) punctata shell. P. punctata is only recorded as a raw material for the Admiralty Islands (see FM45 and following 3 artefacts). Lewis (1929) writes his observations on the production of shell money on Ponam - a small island in the Admiralities off Manus (1929: 13-14) and states that the resulting money was traded to Siassi and New Britain. There is some evidence of Ptergia strands in Choiseul, but there appears to be no local tradition of manufacture there.
The beads do not show heavy evidence of use and show no staining or patination. The concentric sculpture has largely disappeared, indicating some abrasion.
Event Date 1/11/2017
Author: Katherine Szabo