Ranongga, Solomon Islands
Circa 1930
Spiny oyster shell, wood
Length 18–19 in (45.7–48.3 cm)
Provenance: Gary Seering, Aiea, Hawaii
Shell money in the Solomon Islands functioned as both currency and ceremonial adornment, with specific forms connected to particular islands and exchange networks. On Ranongga, bakhia necklaces were valued for the labor required to cut, drill, and assemble the shell discs into a dense and even strand. Pieces of this type were used in bride price transactions, mortuary feasts, and inter-island exchange across the Western Solomons.
Each disc was individually hand-drilled from spiny oyster shell, requiring control and repetition to achieve the consistent sizing seen across the necklace. The alternating dark and light patterning comes from the natural variation of the shell rather than dye or surface treatment. The resulting surface has a compact, textile-like quality, showing the maker’s command of material, rhythm, and proportion.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Ranongga, Solomon Islands
Circa 1930
Spiny oyster shell, wood
Length 18–19 in (45.7–48.3 cm)
Provenance: Gary Seering, Aiea, Hawaii
Shell money in the Solomon Islands functioned as both currency and ceremonial adornment, with specific forms connected to particular islands and exchange networks. On Ranongga, bakhia necklaces were valued for the labor required to cut, drill, and assemble the shell discs into a dense and even strand. Pieces of this type were used in bride price transactions, mortuary feasts, and inter-island exchange across the Western Solomons.
Each disc was individually hand-drilled from spiny oyster shell, requiring control and repetition to achieve the consistent sizing seen across the necklace. The alternating dark and light patterning comes from the natural variation of the shell rather than dye or surface treatment. The resulting surface has a compact, textile-like quality, showing the maker’s command of material, rhythm, and proportion.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
