**Originally Listed At $800**

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Sepik River region, ca. 19th to mid-20th century CE. A pair of traditional headbands; one made from cotton cloth and knotted cords around 26 porcelain and 6 canine teeth from dogs, and the other is a broad panel with attachment straps, woven from vegetal fibers and covered in dozens of natural canine teeth and shells. The larger panel is a headband and the other may be a headband or even a necklace, and both adornments denoted social rank, sanctity, and wealth of the people who wore them. European colonizers saw how important these teeth were and produced glass and porcelain replicas to trade, which were accepted by the indigenous people and incorporated into their ornaments, often mixed with real teeth, as used in the necklace strand here! The fact that the larger panel is entirely real dog teeth is impressive since only the 4 front canines were used - meaning approximately 2 dozen dogs were used. Size (wider panel): 17" L x 5" W (43.2 cm x 12.7 cm); (case): 12.125" L x 8.25" W (30.8 cm x 21 cm)

Provenance: ex-Sally Snell collection, bequeathed by her uncle Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#173059

Fraying and unraveling to fibers on verso of large panel with loss to edge beading and loosening of teeth, and missing several teeth on opposite end. Cotton cord on porcelain teeth is fraying slightly but in good condition and teeth are secure. Some earthen and mineral deposits on teeth. Displayed in modern Riker case.