West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

  • West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace

West Papua New Guinea Boar Tusk Necklace
Asmat, Sepik, or neighboring tribes
Dutch New Guinea - West Irian - Irian Jaya (West Papua, New Guinea)
Last half 20th century
Boar tusk, rattan fiber, seed
Height: 40cm
Width: 17,8cm
Collection Date: 2020
Collection Number: 141

Ex. Rick Stroud (RSWORD): Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (2020)

A traditional tusk necklace ornament from the West Papuan region of New Guinea. Personal ornaments like this were used as a symbol of wealth for enhancing one's social status and prestige. They were also worn or traded as currency for ceremonies, bridal dowries, or compensation for different types of disputes, obligations, or debts. From its form and material construction, it shares similarities to the workmanship of the Asmat around the mid-20th century.

The necklace is composed of two boar tusk pendants binded together by rattan fiber. The cord is made from segments of interspersed seeds in a 4:1 alternating ratio. Minor cracks to the tusks.

Photographs from Oceanicartaustralia
Photograph 7: Papuan woman, 1986.
Photograph 8: Papuan man. Published " Tridacna Gigas" by Eric Lancrenon, 2011.