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• Auction House:
  Theodore Bruce
• Sale Name:
  Timed Online Auction | The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic and Asian Art | Day I
• Sale Date:
  08 Aug 2022 ~ 6pm (AEST)
• Lot #:
  9196
• Lot Description:
  Two Superb Old Polynesian Shell Wealth Belts from Takuu or Mortlock Island
  Mortlock Island also known as the Marqueen Islands which are a small isolated atoll off the east coast of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. Takuu is one of the Polynesian outliers' cultures which are situated outside of the Polynesian Triangle. The people of Takuu have traditionally placed great value on the retention of their indigenous practices and religious sites. To protect Takuu from outside influences, the Ariki (chief) banned Christian missionaries for the last 25 years. Only four researchers have been permitted to spend time on the islands in that time. The ban was only lifted in the last five years, as young islanders who had lived and studied on the Papua New Guinea mainland returned to their homeland.
  L 105 - 125 cm
• Provenance:
  The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic Art
• Notes:
  These amazing finely made shell belts show the great skill of the artists, each shell is pierced so that they can be tied to the belt so the shells stand up straight in a rows that give it the unique look. Here the two belts are using different two different types of shells.
• Estimate:
  A$400 - 600
• Realised Price:
  $0.00
• Category:
  Tribal

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.