Headbands from Papua New Guinea

• country - Papua New Guinea
• materials - shells, spondylis shells, fiber
• object - headbands
• object date - first half of the 20th Century
• source - David Baker, Sydney, Australia

These three fine headbands come from Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. While the example at the bottom is very beautifully made and an attractive work of art, many people prefer headbands with spondylus shell. Spondylus shell has been hotly collected and traded in various parts of the world for thousands of years, no doubt principally because of its color. While it is found in more than one place, it certainly does not occur everywhere. To the indigenous inhabitants of Oro Province these items were very valuable, particularly during the long period in Papua New Guinea history when in general (metals being unknown) shells represented money as well as beauty.