Necklace

Double row of pink shell beads fastened to a plaited string of pandamus leaf. From the Micronesians, Jaluit, Marshal Island. Collector, H.F. Moore, U.S. Fish Com. Str. Albatross, Townsend and Moore. Purchased for $500 in 1900. (Middle): CAT # 398171, Accession # 231718, Original # Y-619. Necklace made of pink ground clam shell; denotes rank and is a valuable gift exchange item. Very expensive and difficult to obtain. In use today. Often have family histoty to enhance value. From Gagil, Yap, Caroline Islands. Aquired as an exchange on August 24, 1960. Collector, Mr. John H. Brandt.

(Top Right): CAT # EL 222 (Loan CAT), Accession # 30498, Negative # 82-8247. Necklace of Human Teeth of the Gilbertese tribe from Gilbert Island. Seven clusters of human teeth, each two clusters connected by three strands of red seed beads strung on sennit. According to letter of transmission, necklace presented to Lt. Clarke in 1884-1885, by King Timbenuku, then ruler over six islands of Gilbert Island atool, while on the island of Kuria. Collector Lt. F.L. Clarke, Quartermaster, Veternans Home, Napa County, California. Aquired as a gift on Mach 31, 1896.

(Bottom Left): Shell Necklace, CAT # 205194, Accession # 36365, Original # 219. Single row of dark shells fastened to narrow gand of palm leaf. From the Micronesians, Arno Atoll, Marshall Island. Collector, H.F. Moore U.S. Fish Com. Str. Albatross, Townsend and Moore. Purchased for $500 in 1900.
(Bottom Right): CAT # 401633, Accession # 249806. Double strand strung on bark fiber. Large crude, reddish shell beads with smaller white shell and coconut shell beads, and medium-size, black glass beads comined in various patterns. Fiber broken and some beads apparently missing. From the Trukese of the Truk Island, Micronesia. Collector, Dr. Edward T. Hall. Aquired as a gift on August 8, 1963.

Published in Oxford History of Art. "The Pacific Arts of Polynesia and Micronesia" by Adrienne L. Kaeppler, 2008. Page 113.