Papua New Guinea jewelry
There is a huge variety of Papua New Guinea jewelry from the mainland and surrounding islands. Tribal jewelry were originally made using neolithic tools like sharks teeth and obsidian. The materials were those found in nature such as shells, teeth, bone, bush fiber, feathers, stone, wood and turtle shell. As soon as Pacific Cultures came in contact with Europeans they started to incorporate glass trade beads. Later they incorporated all sorts of other European materials.
The aim of the article is to look at some of the vast variety of New Guinea jewelry. Lots of images to help the reader identify specific pieces of Tribal jewelry. Hopefully, you develop an appreciation for these miniature masterpieces.
I Buy and Sell New Guinea jewelry and if you have a piece you would like to sell please send me an image. If you have a piece of tribal PNG jewelry and just want to know more about it or find out what it is worth feel free to send me an email.
New Guinea jewelry general
With experience, it is possible to identify pieces of New Guinea jewelry and know exactly where it comes from. Many pieces of New Guinea jewelry could only be worn by people of a certain social rank or status. They often signified to others not only your wealth but your position within society.
The value of New Guinea jewelry depends on several factors. Physically attractive pieces are of course more valuable than plain pieces. Rare pieces are more valuable than common pieces.
The condition is extremely important because restoration is often nearly impossible. Island Jewellery tends to be more valuable than mainland New Guinea material.
As it would take a very thick book to cover all the New Guinea jewelry the following images are just some examples.
Great book on New Guinea jewelry is Pacific Jewellery and adornment
Examples of New Guinea jewelry
Papuan Gulf kap kap
Made of a filigree of turtle shell over a bailer shell base
Lumi pectoral Sepik region
Made from eggshell couries, nassa shells and bush fiber
New Ireland Mis terminal necklace
Made of turtle shell, glass beads, shell and dogteeth
PNG Highlands Fofona Back adornment
Made of bush fiber Eggshell cowries and nassa shells
Papuan Gulf Archers wrist guard
Made of Conus shell sections black palm and bush string
Massim Dogadoga chiefs necklace
Made of a circular pigs tooth and spondylus shell segments
Sepik penis Gourd
Made from Carved Dwarf coconut cane and nassa shells
Admiralty Island Wedding Apron
Made of shell currency, seed pods trade beads and bush fiber
Russel island nose piece
Made of Giant Clam shell
Kula Earrings Massim Region
Made from turtle shell and spondylus shell disks
Lower Ramu Dogtooth pectoral
Ramu River Nose Piece
Made of bush fiber nassa shells bone and glass beads
Motu Pectoral Port Moresby area
Sepik Puberty Skirt
Made from Jobstears and shell segments on bush fibre
Sepik Turtle shell Armband
Tanga Island Armband from New Ireland Province
Made from a Giant clam shell
West New Britain Pig Tusk necklace
Made from a matched pair of Circular pig teeth cane and fiber
Lower Sepik kapkap adornment
Made from bailer shell turtle shell filigree and a bush fiber necklace
Headband from Collingwood Bay
New Guinea Jewelry
Due to the sheer volume of material I have other articles that cover this subject. They
If you cant find the piece you want to be identified feel free to contact me. Chances are I will be able to help.
All images in this article are for educational purposes only.
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