PAPUAN TRIBAL SHELL NECKLACES 

THESE SHELL NECKLACES ARE INSPIRED BY THE traditional ‘bilas’ ceremonial attire OF THE INHABITANTS OF PAPUA, WHICH COMPRISE NECKLACES, NOSE PIECES, HEADBANDS, CHEST ORNAMENTATION, ARMBANDS, HEADDRESSES, AND BRACELETS.  A BEWILDERING RANGE OF FLORA AND FAUNA GO INTO THESE ACCESSORIES: shells, feathers, teeth, ferns, coral, bones, trade beads, bamboo, tusks, flowers, seeds and vines.

IN PAPUA ‘MONEY COWRIE’ SHELLS WERE TRADITIONALLY THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR DOLLARS OR POUNDS STERLING, AND THEY ARE still used as currency today IN PARTS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.  IN THE HIGHLAND COMMUNITIES OF PAPUA, IN ORDER TO WIN A WIFE MEN STILL HAVE TO RAISE A BRIDE PRICE, WHICH ALWAYS INCLUDES A NUMBER OF THE PRIZED MONEY COWRIE SHELLS AS WELL AS pigs, kina shells rubbed with red ochre and rupiah currency.

PLEASE SEE INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS FOR MORE INTEL.

CARVED WOOD TRIBAL STATUES FROM ACROSS INDONESIA

INSPIRED BY THE traditional animist ancestor worship rituals OF THE INHABITANTS OF TIMOR + SUMBA, THESE STATUES HAVE BEEN REVERED FOR CENTURIES.  THEY ARE BELIEVED TO BE A MEDIUM TO THE WORLD OF THE SPIRITS, A MEANS OF ASKING PEOPLE’S  forebears for protection, health and good fortune.  THE TIMORESE BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRITS OF THEIR ANCESTORS LIVE ON MATEBIAN MOUNTAIN, OR THE ‘mountain of the souls of the dead ‘, FROM WHERE THEY KEEP AN EYE OUT OVER THEIR DESCENDANTS.

IN ORDER TO KEEP A STABLE AND PEACEFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS SPIRIT WORLD, VARIOUS CEREMONIES AND RITUALS ARE REQUIRED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR {TO restore harmony to the natural environment, WHICH IS UNBALANCED BY MAN’S ACTIVITIES}.  IF THE ANCESTORS ARE SATISFIED THEY REWARD THE LIVING WITH GOOD HARVESTS, HEALTH AND PROSPERITY, BUT IF ANY OF THE nuku-hara’ rules are broken, THE BALANCE BETWEEN NATURE AND MAN BECOMES UNSTABLE AND THE VILLAGERS’ descendants will be punished by the spirits.

PLEASE SEE INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS FOR MORE INTEL.