**Originally Listed At $300**

Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Abelam culture, ca. 20th century CE. A pair of hand-woven textile and shell ornaments, one with an impressive pair of boar tusks attached! The larger is a necklace pectoral with thick woven fibers sewn / woven together as the base for the dozens of nassa and cowrie shells. The pendant area forms an abstract face with larger shell discs and cowrie shells as the eyes. The other ornament may have been sewn or suspended as a special charm - note the abstract face also formed by the cordage and shells over the tusks. Warriors and male dancers wore these adornments during rituals and initiation ceremonies, they functioned as charms known as Karahuts, the faces that represented ancestral spirits. In battle, warriors might also carry the charm in their mouth with the tusks covering their face to intimidate their enemies. The tusks were prized parts of regalia and used as currency and dowry pieces and could even act as compensation for disputes. Size of face necklace pectoral: 18" L x 5" W (45.7 cm x 12.7 cm)

Provenance: private Constance McCormick Fearing estate, Montecito, California, USA, acquired before 2004

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#181296

Face necklace is very good with a few tears to cordage and discoloration. Tusk ornament has some chips to tusks and old inventory label on surface. Wear and fraying to some woven cords and red yarn on verso, but still tightly woven and great condition. Some chips to shells to both.