Description (Labels & Markings)
No labels or inscriptions.
Event Date 9/4/2009
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
[From catalogue card:] 'A broken string of a shell bead necklace / currency. Grey in colour'.
Event Date 9/4/2009
Author: maa

Context (Other owners)
There is no label or inscription on this object to indicate its provenance. The Z number register (#5) notes that it is associated to the Edgell collection [William Henry Edgell, whose collection came to MAA in 1923 and in 1961].
Event Date 26/8/2015
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (Physical description)
Short length of shell money formed of white shell beads, with occasional black (?seed) beads, on a cord of vegetable fibre.
Event Date 26/8/2015
Author: maa

Context (Analysis)
Single strand of white shell discs. In some zones of the strand, ribs are evident they are a mix of Anadara antiquata and Anadara granosa, but in other zones there are clearly clusters of gastropod beads that seem to be made from individual Conus shells. Beads are well-polished and often well-worn. Sizes are often regular for long sections of the strand and indicate material ground together, but the mix of raw materials clearly indicates that the source of this strand is several other strands. There are two dark seeds (as used in the Malaitan shell money) threaded near the end of the strand.
Event Date 7/11/2017
Author: Katherine Szabo