Forehead Ornament Called Dala Kap Kap - Papua New Guinea, Melanesia - Late 19th Century

FRONT ORNAMENT called dala kap kap

New Georgia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia

Late 19th - early 20th century

Shell, tooth, tortoiseshell and natural fibres

Diameter: 9.5 cm

(indigenous restoration and very slight old accident)



This head ornament consists of a disc of tridacna shell embellished with a finely openwork tortoiseshell plate. It is cut into a rosette with anthropo-geometric designs and pierced in the centre to be held to the shell using a cord of plant fibres, and finished with a bead made from a small tooth - probably a dogfish tooth.

Native restorations to the shell, using natural fibres, enhanced the finesse of the piece.

This ornament was sometimes worn as a pendant or attached to a band of plaited plant fibres. It could also be used as currency.

It is said that the smaller dala kap kap were worn by women, while the larger ones were worn by men.



Provenance: Former Leo and Lillian Fortess collection, Hawaii, United States.

Bibliography: Exhibited at the Honolulu Academy of Fine Arts.

Illustration image: Anonymous photographer, 1900-1942 © Musée du Quai Branly

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON



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