Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Plaited fiber in hanging rectangles edged with cowrie shells. Front has 4 hanging panels with attached dangling disc. Repeat in back. Large shells are mounted on either side of plaited fiber. Connected by stick that supports fiber. Double loops.
Double shell necklace
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Double shell necklace

Maker New Guinea, Coastal region, Astrolabe Bay
Date20th century
Place of originAsia
MediumFiber, shells
Dimensions9 1/4 x 10 1/2 x 2 in. (23.5 x 26.7 x 5.1 cm)
ClassificationsClothing and accessories
Credit LineGift of Dr. Samuel Spring
Object numberS85-SPNG-G156
Collections
Visual DescriptionPlaited fiber in hanging rectangles edged with cowrie shells. Front has 4 hanging panels with attached dangling disc. Repeat in back. Large shells are mounted on either side of plaited fiber. Connected by stick that supports fiber. Double loops.
Long open ? plaited fiber cap. When worn extends down back and ends in small likeness of lizard or crocodile with mouth. Strands of fiber adorned with cowrie shells and painted with red and white pigment. Small twine loops with evidence of feathers at top.
Bridal Headpiece (ambusap)
Iatmul
20th century
Finely woven rattan body costume with hanging fiber. Wings and head made from plaited string. Long neck. Design painted on predominately black body. Shell eye. Cassowary feathers extend down sides and ridge of back. Dangling twine from circular disc ears.
Cassowary Dance Costume
Iatmul
20th century
Helmet mask depicting a composite boar and bird, made of wood and rattan, lined with cloth. The face has intricate openwork carving and is painted with fine lines in red, and black pigments over a white ground. A ruff of coconut fibers encircling back of head and fringe on chin. Snout of warthog has a bird with long bill, which is broken and glued together. Eyes of warthog and bird are made of snail shells (opercula). Trade cloth liner is made of two pieces of different floral patterns.
Boar Mask
Papua New Guinea
early-mid 20th century
Simple necklace of two boar tusks joined together with plaited fiber hanging from strand of gray seeds. Curved tusks project left and right and lie flat against surface.
Boar's Tusk Necklace
New Guinean
20th century
Traditional elongated facial mask with long nose pierced at septum with boar tusk extending to chin where bird protrudes down. Face surrounded by shells embedded in clay. Shells on nose extension. Human hair at top of head beneath plaited raffia loop for hanging. Small inset shells for eyes underneath carved protruding brows. Dark stain. Painted traditional designs.
Mai Mask
Iatmul
20th century
A dark wooden mask featuring deep round eyes, a prominent nose, and an open mouth showing teeth. Cowrie shells are attached to the upper edge, and a thick fringe of dark feathers and fibers surrounds the lower face.
Mask (gle)
Dan Artist
undated
A voluminous garment constructed from layered, mismatched textiles like red plaid, black velvet, and colorful patterned fabrics. The head is obscured by wrapped cloths, and a textured, woven chest piece decorated with small triangular pendants hangs down the front.
Ancestor Spirit Masquerade Costume (egungun)
Yoruba Artist
20th century
Carved wood figure with various attachments: medicine bundles with feathers and other substances, cowrie strands on neck and head, monkey skull attached to front with cords, shells and seed pods and gourd bound to figure with cord, back covered with burlap; dots of blue and white pigment on figure; figure holds a club in each hand; has conical headdress, strand of red and green beads on back, iron chain with small conical bell attached at end dangling at feet.
Smallpox God
Yoruba Artist
1969
Plaited fiber scalloped oval attached to 2 bands or handles of plaited raffia. Extension decorated with numerous half cowries in a geometric design large square with V-shape extensions. Cut wood on either side of square.
Armband
New Guinean, Sepik River
20th century
Human face mask with large arched superstructure of rattan, thick, fiber brush on top, with light pigment on side filling swirl motif; face has operculum shell eyes, with hook nose, mouth has lips that are parted and flattened to form perpendicular plane to face. Face is painted with finely lined motifs, varied pigments against light ground.
Mask for Malangan (tatanua)
Papua New Guinea
late 19th - early 20th century
A knitted, burled cap of blue and tan fibers, with small finger-like projections and attached metal coins, glass beads, reeds and cowry shells.
Man's Prestige Hat (ashetu)
Bamum Artist
20th century
Mask with long pointed snout, large inset glass eyes, surmounted face with carved linear coiffure and four diminutive figures with spiraling loop at the back, shells, fiber and patina.
Mask (Ulaga or Ojionu)
Igbo Artist
undated

Collections research is ongoing. Information provided on the Harn’s website about collection objects may be updated, revised, or enhanced at any time.

Harn
Copyright © Harn
null