Necklace
| Culture | Iatmul |
|---|---|
| Title | Necklace |
| Date | Unknown |
| Medium | Gold-lip mother-of-pearl shell, fiber, and and nassa shells |
| Dimensions | Object: 7 × 8 × 3/4 in. (17.8 × 20.3 × 1.9 cm) Overall: 7 × 8 × 3/4 in. (17.8 × 20.3 × 1.9 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 73.1.9 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A necklace with a large crescent-shaped shell form at the center. fiber is attached are the ends of the crescent-shaped shell with beads strung in a curving line close to each end.
Among the Iatmul peoples of New Guinea, ornamentation and adornment were of great historical importance. These elements, such as this necklace, could communicate an individual’s status within their community, their gender, wealth, or a particular occasion. Historically, this necklace was only worn by men as a part of their battle regalia. Today such necklaces are worn as a sign of status for ceremonial events.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Necklace | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=73.1.9