Accession No
1917.81.6
Description
Length of shell money/currency of white, red and black shell and coconut disc beads.
Place
Oceania; Melanesia; Solomon Islands
Period
Source
Martin, John Harington (Lieutenant, R.N.) [collector]; Martin collection; Martin, Caroline (Miss) [donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1917.81.6; MAA: 1917.81.6; Z 6263.6
Cultural Affliation
Material
Shell; Seed; Plant; Fibre
Local Term
Measurements
Events
Description (CMS Description)
Strands of shell money, predominantly of white tridacna shell beads, with occasional sections decorated with black (?seed) beads and red spondylus shell beads. Strung on a twisted cord.
Event Date 26/8/2015
Author: maa
Context (CMS Context)
Labels & inscriptions: a small metal label attached to the object reads '1917.81.6.' in white ink. A small oval paper label attached to the object reads '1917.81.6' in pencil.
Event Date 26/8/2015
Author: maa
Description (CMS Description)
[From catalogue card:] '[One of] 7 shell bead chains' and added later: '6... of white (one almost entirely) & of red & black shell beads'.
Event Date 26/8/2015
Author: maa
Context (Amendments / updates)
Register notes for 1917.74-85 'Collected by Lieut.t Harrington [sic] Martin, R.N., 1873/ Given by his sister Miss Caroline Martin'. The term 'late' has been added in pencil to the collector's name for the subsequent page of material from 1917.79- 87.
Lieut. John Harington Martin, R.N., served on H.M.S. Dido on the Australia Station 1872- 1875. His name has been variously written and mis-transcribed as Marten and Harrington.
Event Date 8/10/2020
Author: rachel hand
FM:268623
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