New Guinea Shell Necklace

This Papua New Guinea Shell Necklace is made by the Tolai people on the island of New Britain. This piece is referred to as a Tabu and was used as currency on New Britain. The necklace is comprised of hundreds of small nassa shells, aligned in twenty overlapping bands of shells. This decorative necklace, which is too small of an opening to be worn, was made for the tourist trade. This piece is mounted on a metal base.