Maprik area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Clam shell
Diameter of largest: 5⅛ in (13 cm)
Provenance: Bruce Seamans, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Shell rings known as yua were used as currency and prestige objects across the Maprik area of the East Sepik, circulating through exchange networks where their value was tied to size, quality of grinding, and the reputation of their previous holders. Produced from giant clam shell by specialist makers, each ring required sustained labor to grind the raw shell into a consistent disk and bore the central aperture to a clean edge. Objects of this type moved between communities as bridewealth, compensation payments, and ceremonial gifts, their accumulation marking the social and economic standing of their owner.
This group of three rings is presented on a custom museum mount, the rings varying in diameter with the largest at 5⅛ inches. The shell has aged to a warm cream tone with natural variation across the surfaces, the grinding marks smoothed by handling over time. The Bora Bora provenance through Bruce Seamans connects this group to the same French Polynesia collection that supplied several other pieces in this inventory.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Maprik area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Clam shell
Diameter of largest: 5⅛ in (13 cm)
Provenance: Bruce Seamans, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Shell rings known as yua were used as currency and prestige objects across the Maprik area of the East Sepik, circulating through exchange networks where their value was tied to size, quality of grinding, and the reputation of their previous holders. Produced from giant clam shell by specialist makers, each ring required sustained labor to grind the raw shell into a consistent disk and bore the central aperture to a clean edge. Objects of this type moved between communities as bridewealth, compensation payments, and ceremonial gifts, their accumulation marking the social and economic standing of their owner.
This group of three rings is presented on a custom museum mount, the rings varying in diameter with the largest at 5⅛ inches. The shell has aged to a warm cream tone with natural variation across the surfaces, the grinding marks smoothed by handling over time. The Bora Bora provenance through Bruce Seamans connects this group to the same French Polynesia collection that supplied several other pieces in this inventory.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
