Chest or forehead ornament (kapkap)

Ornaments of this type are popularly known as kapkap. They are chest or forehead ornaments consisting of a disc of white shell (giant clam - tridacna) overlaid with an openwork disc of turtle-shell, usually secured with vegetable fibre thread. The discs are often attached to plaited fibre head-bands. The turtle-shell overlay is skilfully carved with geometric designs. These designs vary in style from island to island, but the basic arrangement of concentric bands is consistent. This example has a central motif of a six-pointed star. Some examples incorporate human or animal figures. The turtle-shell inlay of the kapkap ornaments made in the outlying Santa Cruz Islands is often made in the form of a stylized frigate bird.Solomon Islanders also use shell for making a number of other personal ornaments, including disc-shaped neck pendants of clam shell with incised designs infilled with pigment; pearl-shell pendants; armlets cut from a single piece of shell; nose ornaments inserted into the septum and necklaces and belts threaded with tiny shell beads. Solomon Islanders also use shell for making a number of other personal ornaments, including disc-shaped neck pendants of clam shell with incised designs infilled with pigment; pearl-shell pendants; armlets cut from a single piece of shell; nose ornaments inserted into the septum and necklaces and belts threaded with tiny shell beads.