An Oceanic Engraved and Cut Trochus Shell Arm Band (1800 to 1900 Papua New Guinea)

Cut Trochus Shell

10.00cm deep (  3.94 inches deep)

Provenance : From the Walter Potter Museum of Curiosities, Bramber, Sussex
Ex Jamaica Inn Museum, Bolventor, Cornwall, UK

Although the old ink inscription states 'Fiji Islands …' as the origin of this shell bracelet, it is much more likely to have come from Papua New Guinea where these armbands are often worn several at a time. It is, of course, possible that it found its way to Fiji via an old trade route.

An Oceanic Engraved and Cut Trochus Shell Arm Band
An old inscription reading : ‘ Fiji Islands Armlet – Miss Vincent’
19th century

Size : 10 cm dia. (max) 0.5 cm thickness – 4 ins dia. (max) ¼ ins thickness