Men's breast ornament ·  Papua New Guinea, North Coast, Aitape Region, Wawapu · ID: 3047098

Description

rattan, boar tusks, nassa snails, resin (originally set with Abrus precatorius),
This breast ornament was part of a festive costume, but was also used as war ornament. It is possible, that the compact shield-shaped ornament did not only have an amulet-like effect but also offered real protection against arrows.

The object Men’s breast ornament with the object ID 3047098 was last part of the auction 95th Tribal Art Auction at October 24, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 16.

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Comparing literature

Heermann, Ingrid & Ulrich Menter, Schmuck der Südsee, München 1990, p. 60, ill. 6