Traditional Kina Shell Wealth Objects from Papua New Guinea

Three old Kina shells in original bark Wallets, Mendi Valley,…
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Three old Kina shells in original bark Wallets, Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, [3], all fine early pre-European examples, 19th century. These were very important wealth objects with a long history of use in traditional exchange ceremonies where ' Big Men ' gave away their wealth in Kina shells and Pigs to gain status but also to incur obligations for the future from other clans. Provenance: field collected by Todd Barlin in 1986.

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