Pectoral Kina Madang Sepik River, Papua New Guinea.

Kina Madang pectoral from the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea, early 20th century.
Private collection Cleenewerck Brigitte and Gilles - Belgium.
The KINA, particularly valued within a prestigious exchange system, is worn by men on the bust like PARURE.
During the exchanges, they are aligned on the ground, so that everyone can better consider their value.
These “Coins” are exchanged during the payment of the “Price of the Bride”. This precious shell is then wrapped in ferns.
The Kina is a mother-of-pearl coated with red ocher and then cut into a crescent moon.
These prestigious coins are expertly crafted by skilled hands.
The materials are noble, precious and rare, very often carved from giant pearl oysters or Tridacna fossil clams.
height 23.5 cm, width 17.5 cm.