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

Forehead Ornament Called Dala Kap Kap - Papua New Guinea, Melanesia - Late 19th Century-photo-3

Forehead Ornament Called Dala Kap Kap - Papua New Guinea, Melanesia - Late 19th Century-photo-4

Forehead Ornament Called Dala Kap Kap - Papua New Guinea, Melanesia - Late 19th Century-photo-1

Object description :

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

Forehead 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: 15 cm

This head ornament consists of a disc of tridacna shell embellished with a finely openwork tortoiseshell plate. It is cut into a rosette with geometric designs, centred around two shell bead pendants and seed sections. On the reverse, two long strands of plaited plant fibres are embellished with beads of small shell and seed discs.

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.

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

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

Ref.LP5495

Price: 1 480 €